√2023 Ineos Grenadier to enter production this month after delays

Global parts supply shortages have been blamed by newcomer Ineos for a delay in production, but the company has confirmed its Grenadier off-roader will begin manufacturing this month.

The first batch of 2023 Ineos Grenadier four-wheel-drives will soon begin rolling down the production line in France, three months later than planned.

Ineos had initially expected to begin building customers’ Grenadiers in July 2022, but was forced to push the production start date to this month following parts delays.

An Ineos spokesperson in Australia told Drive “further information around deliveries globally [will] follow shortly”.

“The fragile supply chains meant that some parts were missing,” an Ineos spokesperson overseas told German publication Automobilwoche.

Parts shortages have been a major headache for car manufacturers over the past two years, with a lack of semiconductor computer chips, pandemic-related shutdowns, shipping issues, and disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict all contributing to disrupted supply chains.

Despite the challenges, a spokesperson for the British brand in Australia confirmed to Drive the Grenadier was beginning production this month, as reported internationally.

“The company’s directors and senior management team have stayed informed of the supply conditions to understand the key concerns and [are] reviewing options to overcome potential delays,” the company wrote in its accounts report, according to The Guardian newspaper.

Ineos Automotive reported pre-tax losses of €212 million ($AU327 million) for 2021, contributing to total losses of €506 million ($AU780 million) since the car company began operating in 2017 – with expectations it will begin reversing those losses once vehicles begin to be delivered to customers.

It’s not all bad news, with Ineos Automotive founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe also experiencing record revenues in other areas of his multibillion-dollar business empire, UK newspaper The Telegraph reports, with the company’s oil and gas interests bringing in an almost £500 million ($AU881 million) windfall in 2021 thanks to soaring energy prices in Europe.

MORE: Ineos Grenadier: 28 dealers in Australia announced

In May 2022, order books for the 2023 Ineos Grenadier opened for Australian buyers, with a starting price of $84,500 before on-road costs for a two-seater base model.

Powering the vehicle is a choice of 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol and diesel six-cylinder engines sourced from BMW, both matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission with full-time four-wheel drive, a low-range gearbox, and a centre differential lock for greater off-road traction.

Ineos was successfully able to lobby the Australian Tax Office back in July 2022 to have the Grenadier exempt from Luxury Car Tax, delivering immediate savings of between $4174 and $19,000 to customers, depending on the variant.

A pre-production vehicle has been making the rounds in Australia this year, visiting four-wheel-drive shows and other automotive events, including the F1 Australian Grand Prix in April – with MotoGP motorcycle racing fans the next in line to see the Grenadier at Phillip Island this weekend.

Order books for the 2023 Ineos Grenadier are open now, with a local launch expected in the first half of 2023.

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