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After being on sale for roughly 4 years, the former Holden proving floor atLang Lang, Victoria now has at the least two consumers – however nationwide safety considerations might find yourself dictating who its new proprietor is.
CarExpert understands Australian army know-how firm Defendtex has additionally bid on the acquisition of the historic facility, positioned 90 minutes from Melbourne.
The information comes simply weeks after CarExpert reported on GWM’splans to accumulate the 877-hectare property, after the Chinese language automaker started leasing the proving floor for car testing – hiring former Holden engineer Rob Trubiani to tune its fashions for Australian circumstances in March, earlier than taking over ‘everlasting residency’ on the Lang Lang Proving Floor.
Nonetheless, whereas the Australian Authorities has the authority to probably step in and block the sale to GWM, sources declare GWM has but to formally submit a suggestion for the proving floor at this stage.
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CarExpert understands each Defendtex and GWM have been utilizing the ability to check merchandise on the identical time.
It’s not clear what army know-how Defendtex has been testing, and whether or not or not it was labeled or delicate.
In keeping with the corporate’s web site, Defendex received the Defence Innovator of the Yr award in 2023 and 2024, and was a finalist in 2025. It was additionally a finalist for Sovereign Trade Functionality Supplier of the Yr on the Australian Defence Trade Awards.
Whereas there isn’t any suggestion of improper or unlawful behaviour on the a part of both firm, Chinese language vehicles – lots of that are fitted with digital camera methods as a part of their security suites – have been banned from army websites in a number of international locations, such because the UK and Israel.
Beneath Australian regulation, the federal treasurer has the facility to approve or block any important overseas investments, with safety and defence issues forming a part of the choice.
Whereas Treasury declined to remark for this text – and is legally unable to touch upon overseas funding evaluate instances – pointers supplied to CarExpert present a overseas entity could also be mandated to inform, or inspired to inform, the federal authorities of its intentions.
On this explicit case – with a defence trade contractor as a tenant, as outlined by the Safety of Essential Infrastructure Act 2018 – it seems GWM could also be inspired to inform Treasury of its plans to buy the Lang Lang Proving Floor voluntarily.
Vietnamese automaker VinFast bought the property in 2020, following the axing of Holden that 12 months, and had formidable plans to enter the Australian auto market on the time. Nonetheless, the model quickly modified course, closing its native workplace and placing the Lang Lang facility up on the market lower than 12 months later.
As a part of GWM’s announcement of its intention to buy the Lang Lang property, the Chinese language automotive firm claimed it was negotiating on worth with representatives of VinFast.
In keeping with sources near the most recent deal, VinFast’s Australian consultant is at the moment contemplating proposals from each GWM and Defendtex to buy the proving floor – although Defendex is believed to be the one get together to have put ahead a proper provide presently.
CarExpert understands there’s a choice on the half of the present house owners to promote the proving floor to a different automaker – which might possible assist safe the roles of auto engineers at the moment employed there.
The Australian Authorities might take a special view, given the ability is at the moment used to check army tools by defence contractors.
In 2015, the Northern Territory authorities got here up towards important public scrutiny after a Chinese language company signed a 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin – with either side of parliament vowing to return the port to Australian possession throughout the 2025 federal election.
Defendtex didn’t reply to inquiries by CarExpert.
MORE: Chinese language auto large desires to purchase former Holden proving floor
