VinFast whistleblower claims rampant safety failures and rushed production

Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast is facing intense scrutiny following whistleblower allegations of unsafe practices and rushed production. 

Driving the news: Mechanical engineer Hazar Denli, formerly of Tata Technologies, claims safety concerns were ignored to meet tight deadlines, compromising quality and worker safety.

For context: Hazar Denli was hired by Tata Technologies, a division of Tata Group, to lead engineering on the chassis and suspension systems for VinFast’s VF8 and VF9 models. From the beginning, he grew alarmed by the aggressive timelines and cost-cutting measures.

• During testing in early 2023, critical components like brackets and strut-to-knuckle connections failed prematurely. 

• The components were failing after fewer than 25,000 km, Denli told the BBC, when normally they would be expected to last at least 150,000 km.

• He raised concerns internally, recommending redesigns and postponing production, but says his warnings were dismissed in favor of meeting production deadlines.

Between the lines: A Times investigation uncovered harsh working conditions at VinFast’s factories. Employees were allegedly locked in overnight during COVID to meet deadlines.

The tipping point: After resigning from Tata Technologies in May 2023, Denli joined Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), another Tata Group company. However, he became increasingly disturbed by reports of crashes and safety issues involving VinFast vehicles.

• In April, a family of four died in California after a VinFast VF8 lost control, veered off the road, and caught fire.

• Denli took to Reddit to share his concerns, writing, “I wouldn’t get into one… never will, and I won’t let my loved ones get into one either.”

• Tata Technologies retaliated by contacting JLR and requesting Denli’s dismissal. Internal emails show Tata executives pressured JLR, which terminated Denli’s contract and blacklisted him from recruitment platforms.

What’s next: Denli has filed a case for unfair dismissal against JLR, arguing his termination was orchestrated to silence his safety concerns. The NHTSA investigation will assess the safety of VinFast’s vehicles and could lead to recalls or further regulatory action.

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