2022 INEOS GRENADIER PRODUCTION TO COMMENCE IN JULY

INEOS is expecting to be manufacturing its new Grenadier four-wheel drive from July, with the company currently trialling the production of 100 prototypes to streamline the process.

The production will be at Daimler’s former Smart plant in Hambach, France. The site employs around 1000 workers and is the first carbonneutral car factory. The decision, however, is a departure from the original plan to build the car in the UK at an all-new site. Purchasing a ready to move in factory allowed the start-up brand to expidite its manufacturing.

Ineos states the first phase underway is a "production try-out" to approve the build processes before full production can commence. Ineos recently spent almost $800 million on the factory for key upgrades. These included a fully-automated body shop, assembly site and semiautomated paint shop.

The Grenadier has live axles with front and back, with progressive coil springs on a body-on-frame platform – meaning it is first built as a rolling chassis before adding the body and drivetrain. Under the bonnet is the choice of either a BMW straight-six diesel or petrol turbocharged engine, with four-wheel drive and transfer box for low-range.

Starting in February 2021, the Grenadier’s testing and development programme took it to 15 countries around the world on the toughest terrains and in the worst of weathers, with engineers analysing and recalibrating every part and function of the vehicle

All of the latest information suggests the Ineos Grenadier should start to hit the road soon as a production vehicle. Since opening preorders, the brand has received approximately 15,000 reservations. The price starts at $84,500 plus on-road costs in Australia, but the first batch of vehicles previously expected in August will likely be delayed.