Ineos Automotive Starts Grenadier Production To Fulfill Orders In North America

Grenadier. (Doc. Ineos Automotive)

JAKARTA - Ineos Automotive started production of Grenadier four-wheeled vehicles for the North American market last week.

Grenadier, the first US specification, is that its production is still based on their facilities in Hambatch, France in Scottish White colors.

As reported by Motor1, September 24, this step is the company's commitment to fulfill quite a large number of orders in the US, namely 7,000 units. Ineos has a target of delivering to the US this November, with Canada following in January.

Lynn Calder, CEO of Ineos Automotive, expressed enthusiasm for the achievement of this production and highlighted the strategic importance of the Hambut factory.

"The start of production for North American vehicles is an important moment for Ineos Automotive, and especially for the Hambut plant," said Kalder.

He also stated that the increase in production had occurred over the past six months.

"To ensure we can send it to customers as quickly as possible while maintaining the world-class quality standards we set for ourselves," he added.

In the US, what is marketed is a five-seater SUV version while the price of Grenadier is a basic model starting from 71,500 US dollars or around Rp1.1 billion while the Trialmaster and Fieldmaster both start at 79,190 US dollars or around Rp1.2 billion.

It is known, this SUV has a form that almost resembles the Land Rover Defender Classic but is better in everything good, especially the interior part of the combination of the latest technology, comfort, and layout that prioritizes functionality.

The model, which was born from the company's owner Sir Jim Radcliffe's love for Defender, was built on the results of cooperation with various parties, one of which was BMW, which manages a six-cylindrical engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission with 282 dk of power and 451 Nm of torque.

To support Grenadier's production, Ineos Automotive acquired the Hambut facility from Mercedes-Benz in January 2021, with an investment of more than 50 million euros at that time. The production line is equipped with advanced features, including a new semi-automatic painting workshop, a fully automated body repair shop, and an improved quality center.

Apart from Grenadier, Ineos is also planning to launch three new models towards the end of the decade, including two fully electric vehicles. They have also planned a version powered by hydrogen but postponed the launch due to a lack of supporting infrastructure.