A mechanical engineer, Hazar Denli, has been dismissed from his position at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) after raising concerns about the safety of VinFast electric vehicles.
Mr Denli’s dismissal followed his public disclosure of these concerns on Reddit, prompting an investigation into potential safety defects. Confidential emails reveal that Tata Group, which owns both JLR and Tata Technologies (Mr Denli’s former employer), orchestrated his sacking in retaliation for his disclosures.
Mr Denli’s concerns stemmed from his time at Tata Technologies, where he led the engineering team responsible for the front suspension and chassis design of VinFast vehicles. During testing at the Mira Technology Park, several components failed prematurely, raising serious alarm bells. These components, which should have lasted for at least 150,000 km, were failing after fewer than 25,000 km, creating a potential risk of wheel misalignment and loss of control. Mr Denli escalated these concerns to senior management at both Tata Technologies and VinFast, recommending design changes and higher quality parts. However, with VinFast preparing for a stock market flotation, these recommendations were ignored, and production proceeded.
Following his resignation from Tata Technologies, Mr Denli secured a position at JLR. However, reports of safety defects in earlier VinFast models, including incidents of wheels detaching and a vehicle fire, prompted him to post his concerns on Reddit. He felt compelled to speak out, believing the vehicles posed a danger to lives. This action triggered a chain of events that led to his dismissal from JLR. Internal documents reveal that Tata Technologies contacted JLR, requesting Mr Denli’s termination, citing concerns that he might disclose information about JLR in the future. He was subsequently dismissed and blacklisted from a recruitment platform.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has since launched an investigation into the VinFast VF8, following numerous reports of safety issues, including problems with the Lane Keep Assist system. This investigation coincides with the mounting pressure in the UK for stronger whistleblower protections. Mr Denli is now pursuing an employment tribunal against JLR, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals who speak out about potential safety risks.
Source: BBC News
