The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is once again rolling off its production line in France, following a four-month manufacturing hiatus caused by the brief demise of an automotive icon.
Production was suspended in September 2024 after seat supplier Recaro filed for insolvency in Germany two months earlier, impacting all examples of the Ineos Grenadier that exclusively employs the brand’s front seats.
While Recaro’s Japanese and North American automotive divisions – as well as its non-automotive ventures – carried on unaffected, the German arm paused operations.
Ineos Automotive announced in November that it would resume production this month, before Recaro was taken over by Italian automotive manufacturing firm Proma Group – which itself makes vehicle seats and structural parts – in December.
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It’s understood that Grenadier vehicles will continue to come with Recaro front seats, though Ineos has only said: “The resolution of a critical shortage of seats after supplier insolvency at the end of last year sees the production line restart on-time.”
The first shipment of 2025 Ineos Grenadiers departed the Hambach factory in France this week.
“We’re very grateful for the patience of our customers, suppliers and production teams as we worked through a difficult situation,” said Philippe Steyer, President of Ineos Automotive SAS in a media statement.
“We are very proud of our Hambach facility, it is testament to the grit and rigour that underpins INEOS, reopening the doors ready to build on the solid foundations laid last year.”
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Grenadier 1924
The resumption of production means the new Grenadier 1924 flagship can finally be delivered to customers – despite being a year late for its commemoration of the 100th anniversary of clothing company Belstaff, an official partner of Ineos.
Only 1924 examples will be made available globally, all of them fitted with exclusive leather trim, gloss black diamond-cut 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels and Belstaff centenary badging. Prices start from $123,600 before on-road costs in Australia, and it’s only available in Station Wagon guise.
The Ineos Grenadier will also be produced with a new Devil Red exterior paint colour for the Station Wagon and Quartermaster body styles, though it’s yet to be specifically locked in for Australia.
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Ineos Fusilier
Outside of resuming Grenadier production, Ineos Automotive has reason to be pleased with its Hambach factory, in which extra space has now increased production capacity.
The facility was built in 1994 by Mercedes-Benz and Swatch to build Smart-branded vehicles, which only wrapped up in 2024.
Ineos has now removed the Smart ForTwo’s old production line “to open further space for future Ineos product developments”.
The Ineos Fusulier, a smaller electric SUV expected to slot under the Grenadier, was initially due to launch in 2027, but was put on ice last year due to “reluctant consumer uptake of EVs, and industry uncertainty around tariffs, timings and taxation”, Ineos said in July.