GM Keeping Holden Test Track After Oz Production Ends

General Motors does a U-turn and decides it will not sell its iconic Lang Lang Proving Ground when it ends Australian production in 2017, saying it will continue to be used to tune Holden vehicles for the country’s demanding local conditions.

Stefan Jacoby, GM executive vice president and president-GM International Operations, traveled to Australia to make the announcement, saying GM Holden will retain its uniquely Australian character now and into the future.

“Whether it’s earned on the proving ground or created in the GM Australia Design Centre, Holden will keep its proud Australian identity,” Jacoby says in a statement.

“This announcement means that post-2017, Holden will not only retain its Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria but will host a design, engineering and product-development workforce in Australia.”

GM Holden is not saying how many engineering jobs will be saved as a result of the decision, but Melbourne’s The Age newspaper says the company expects to maintain a local workforce of about 200 employees across the design center and test facility, about 20% of the present total.

Jacoby says the decision is an important step in ensuring GM Holden and its products continue to speak with a strong Australian accent.

“Our continued investment in the proving ground and the GM Australia Design Centre reinforces the strength of the Holden brand and the company’s commitment to maintaining a significant presence in Australia,” he says.

“The Australian design and engineering capability is also a critical asset for GM globally. This local team is a key part of our global design and engineering strategy for the future.”

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Gerry Dorizas says the design center, combined with the retention of some engineering capability, means GM Holden will continue to deliver world-class vehicles to Australia.

“Our engineering and vehicle development team at Lang Lang will have the capability to tune suspension, steering and drivetrain characteristics for Australia’s unique conditions and customers,” he says. “The Lang Lang team will also remain plugged in to GM’s global engineering department, with ongoing input into product programs that reach beyond Holden and influence GM vehicles around the world.”

Opened in 1957, the Lang Lang Proving Ground 60 miles (95 km) southeast of Melbourne includes 28 miles (44 km) of sealed and unsealed roads designed for specific vehicle development and general durability testing. Its road system includes a 2.75-mile (4.7-km) banked high-speed track, a twist course for steering and chassis tuning, a noise road for vehicle refinement development, hill-test roads and a skid pan.