Less than a year after acquiring the Holden Lang Lang test track, Vietnamese carmaker VinFast is exiting stage left, according to a report by CarsGuide. It’s another blow for former employees of Holden, who have been yet again left in the lurch, as the proving grounds are left looking for a new suiter.
In May, VinFast closed its Australian operations in Port Melbourne, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the restricted movement between countries as reasons. Instead, it was decided that all vehicle development would take place within their home nation of Vietnam.
Built in 1957, the Lang Lang test track stretches across 872 hectares (2,155 acres), and is one of the world’s oldest, yet most modern automobile test centers in existence, having been comprehensively upgraded in 2018.
The facilities feature more than 44 kilometers (27 miles) of test roads, both paved and unpaved that provide the perfect arena for replicating all types of terrain. The facility also included a 100-meter (328-ft) diameter skid pan, a 4.7-kilometer (2.9-mile) banked high-speed circular track, as well as a state-of-the-art emissions laboratory.
The sale announcement back in 2020 was a lifeline thrown to the facility and the staff who worked there. “This deal hits a sweet spot of a fair sale value, a ready-made facility for VinFast’s needs, ongoing employment for departing Holden employees and the preservation of amenity for the community,” said then-interim Holden chairman and managing director, Kristian Aquilina.
It was also a significant investment for the relatively new Vietnamese car manufacturer, who splashed out a reported AU$36.3m (US$26m) for the development site. But according to CarsGuide, the kinds of generous severance packages offered to employees of Ford and GM are unlikely to be replicated with the latest exit.
The test center is set to close by the end of September, while it’ll be maintained by a skeleton staff until new owners are found.
