GWM wants to buy iconic Holden Lang Lang Proving Ground from Vinfast

Chinese language vehicle producer GWM could almost as we direct own one of Australia’s most storied automotive take a look at tracks.

GWM has confirmed it’s in live talks with Vietnam’s Vinfast, the original proprietor of the Lang Lang Proving Floor in Victoria.

Lang Lang veteran to serve because the sprawling dwelling of Holden’s vehicle constructing program, and was the birthplace of generations of Commodores among a glorious deal of name plates.

Worldwide chief skills officer of GWM, Nicole Wu, confirmed to Chasing Vehicles and a glorious deal of media that discussions are energetic.

“We are negotiating relating to the worth,” Wu acknowledged. “It is just not any longer pricey in contrast to what now we luxuriate in got in China and a glorious deal of countries (but) we ideal must evaluate the industrial (case).”

Lang Lang has been a fixed in Australian automotive history since 1957 when Total Motors constructed the complex to replicate native Aussie avenue stipulations faraway from prying eyes.

Over six decades, virtually every Holden – from the FC to the last VF — was honed there to varying success, with behind mannequin VE and VF variations regarded for world-class scurry and handling.

Lang Lang supplies 44 kilometres of take a look at loops including tarred and gravel avenue simulations, besides to a 4.7-kilometre excessive-tempo bowl that was comprehensively resurfaced easiest seven years ago.

GM offloaded the 9 sq. kilometre instruct to Vinfast in 2020 for a reported mid-$30 million imprint, three years after shuttering native Commodore production.

The Vietnamese newcomer veteran the capacity easiest temporarily earlier than striking Lang Lang attend onto the market in 2021 and however in 2024.

Linfox, the logistics company of billionaire Lindsay Fox and proprietor of the Australian Automobile Compare Centre in Anglesea, Victoria, has beforehand been linked to a insist for the field.

GWM isn’t drawing shut Lang Lang from nought. The conglomerate has already leased sections of the capacity for sorting out and media activities, becoming a member of fellow producers including Mitsubishi who luxuriate in done the same.

The recent-generation GWM Haval H6 is at the second having its suspension and steering retuned at Lang Lang for the 2026 mannequin year.

“We are pondering purchasing (Lang Lang Proving Floor). Even though we don’t aquire it, we can (serene) employ it — but if we aquire it, that is doubtless to be an income,” acknowledged GWM CTO Wu.

The property purchased a important $7.2 million resurfacing of its banked bowl in 2018 and roughly $16 million in broader avenue/facility upgrades earlier than Holden departed.

Adding weight to the concept is GWM’s recent recruitment of ex-Holden dynamics guru Rob Trubiani as project engineering supervisor. Trubiani, who fashioned the on-avenue personality of behind-mannequin Commodores, is retuning original GWM fashions and feeding into future programs.

Wu, in Melbourne this week for a media tour, acknowledged GWM will protect the employ of Lang Lang for native tuning no matter whether or no longer the mooted sale goes by.