Engineers working for Tata Technologies Limited (TTL), a UK-based consultancy arm of the Indian conglomerate Tata Group, were allegedly locked in a Vietnamese factory to accelerate the production of electric vehicles for VinFast, whistleblowers have revealed. According to one former employee, the rushed development process compromised safety, raising concerns about the vehicles’ reliability and critical safety faults.
Hazar Denli, a former TTL engineer, has come forward with claims that engineers in Vietnam were subjected to extreme working conditions, including being locked inside the factory overnight to meet production deadlines. “The pressure to meet deadlines was immense,” he stated, alleging that safety testing was “completely rushed.”
Safety Concerns and Fatal Crash in California
VinFast, a subsidiary of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest company, launched its electric vehicles in the US in 2022, with an assembly plant established in North Carolina the following year. However, the vehicles have come under scrutiny after a series of crashes.
In one tragic incident, a VinFast VF8 veered off the road in Pleasanton, California, resulting in the deaths of a family of four. The vehicle reportedly lost control, struck a pole, and caught fire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has since launched a review into the safety of the VF8 model.
Denli, who tested VinFast prototypes in the UK, left TTL due to concerns about the project. He later joined Jaguar Land Rover, also part of Tata Group, but was dismissed after sharing safety concerns about VinFast cars anonymously on Reddit.
Factory Lockdowns During Production
In internal documents obtained by The Times, a Tata corporate investigator acknowledged a factory lockdown had occurred. A summary of the meeting revealed that engineers were forced to stay inside and sleep on-site during certain periods. While TTL claimed the lockdowns were related to COVID-19 restrictions, Denli and another whistleblower allege that the measures were aimed at ensuring uninterrupted work under pressure from VinFast.
“There were numerous incidents of engineers being locked in factories,” the second whistleblower confirmed. “People heading to the airport were often told to turn around and return to work.”
Allegations of Unfair Dismissal
Denli, who left TTL over ethical concerns, now claims that his dismissal from Jaguar Land Rover was orchestrated by VinFast. After he anonymously posted on Reddit about the safety issues, VinFast reportedly identified him and contacted TTL and Jaguar Land Rover, leading to his termination. Denli has since launched unfair dismissal proceedings.
“I felt I couldn’t stay silent any longer,” he said. “The development process was rushed to the point of being unsafe, and I couldn’t bear to be associated with a vehicle that might endanger lives.”
VinFast Under Scrutiny
VinFast debuted on the Nasdaq in August 2023 after merging with a shell company, aiming to raise its profile in global markets. Despite its ambitions, the company’s alleged practices have raised questions about its commitment to safety and ethical working conditions.
Both TTL and VinFast declined to comment on the allegations. A spokesman for Jaguar Land Rover stated: “We do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”
Calls for Accountability
As the NHTSA review progresses, the allegations of unsafe practices and rushed production cast a shadow over VinFast’s international expansion. Industry observers are calling for greater transparency and accountability, emphasizing the need for rigorous safety standards in the electric vehicle industry.
Denli’s case, alongside the broader concerns about VinFast’s production methods, highlights the potential human and safety costs of prioritizing market deadlines over ethical practices and consumer protection.
