SIR JIM Ratcliffe’s Ineos has announced it is delaying the launch of its first ever electric vehicle – just months after it was unveiled.
The Ineos Fusilier SUV was initially scheduled to go into production in 2027, with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid engine option.
Ineos Automotive, the 4×4 company owned by chemical magnate Ratcliffe, currently has just one model on the market books – the Grenadier.
However, the Grenadier is also available as a standard station wagon, a Quartermaster (which is essentially a pick-up version) and a utility wagon, all powered by an inline-six petrol or diesel engine, both sourced from BMW.
The first production version of the Grenadier will take place in 2022. The company has been considering developing a fully electric version since the launch of the Grenadier. The Fusilier was already revealed in February.
But now it seems that enthusiasm for the project has waned.
Ineos admitted in a statement that weak consumer demand and uncertainty surrounding government policy were two reasons for the decision.
They said: “We are postponing the launch of the Ineos Fusilier for two reasons: the reluctance of consumers to adopt electric vehicles and the uncertainty within the industry over tariffs, timing and taxes.
“Electric vehicle charging infrastructure in most markets continues to grow and consumer confidence will match this, but for the industry to meet net zero targets, long-term clarity is needed from policymakers and a number of technology available options taking into account factors such as raw materials, infrastructure and affordability.
“We are determined to bring an EV to market, not just because of the legislation, but because we want to. It is the right thing to do.
“But as a new low-volume manufacturer, we can only produce vehicles that actually sell.
“The Fusilier is an electric vehicle, but also offers the option of a range extender which uses a small, low-emission petrol engine to charge the electric battery when external charging is not available.
“This low-emission solution for longer journeys or where charging is not possible would still be banned in both Europe and the UK in 2035, or even earlier in the UK if Labour is elected to government this week.”
Labour has pledged to reinstate the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars if it wins the general election. Rishi Sunak‘s decision to postpone the moratorium on gas-guzzling vehicles.
A car expert has revealed five 4x4s that can now be bought for less than £5,000 elsewhere, including an iconic model with a “super-spacious interior and a huge boot.”
And a Land Rover that Jeremy Clarkson says “looks expensive” functions “lifted from the Range Rover” is now less than £3,000.
The birth of the Ineos Grenadier
The Grenadier is seen primarily as a tribute to the Land Rover Defender. The idea behind the engine came from a conversation Sir Jim Ratcliffe had with friends in a pub around the time of the iconic 4×4’s demise.
Sir Jim even approached Jaguar Land Rover about the possibility of purchasing the tooling to continue production of the original model after production ceased in January 2016. However, they declined.
Sir Jim came up with the idea of building a utilitarian 4×4 as a spiritual successor to the Defender, named after the Grenadier pub in Belgravia, central London.
Funny enough, he is said to have scribbled the construction drawings for the engine on a beer mat.