A British chemical giant outlined plans to launch its debut sport-utility vehicle five years after its chief executive decided to jump into auto production.
Ineos Automotive will roll out the Grenadier in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East next year before heading to North America a year later.
The off-road vehicle will be sold online and through established dealers and 4×4 specialists, Reuters reports. The initial version, described as “utilitarian,” will be aimed primarily at farmers and other customers in rural areas. It is expected to start at more than $64,000.
The company is an arm of the London-based chemicals manufacturer of the same name. The Grenadier initiative began after the Ineos’ chairman sought to create a successor to the Land Rover Defender, which had been discontinued at the time. The project hit a speed bump after Land Rover’s parent company argued that the Grenadier violated its intellectual property, but a British court tossed out the matter last year.
The Grenadiers will be produced at a former Daimler plant in France and feature engines made by BMW. Its UK retail sites will be supported by aftermarket components from German auto supplier Bosch.
The company is also reportedly working on a pickup version — considered vital for the U.S. market — and is exploring hydrogen fuel cell technology as the auto industry seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels.
