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INEOS Automotive confirms Grenadier 4X4 to be built in Wales
** UPDATE – In August 2020 INEOS said it was confident that the Grenadier would now be built in France rather than Wales. Original article below from 18th September 2019 **
INEOS Automotive has announced that its utilitarian 4×4 will be named ‘Grenadier’ after the pub in which it was conceived, with over 6,000 international fans and followers responding to an online poll to choose the vehicle’s name.
INEOS also confirmed that the Grenadier will be built in a bespoke new manufacturing facility on a greenfield site in Bridgend, South Wales. This will create 200 jobs initially, and up to 500 in the long term. Site development is now underway to support the planned start of production in 2021.
INEOS Automotive’s Grenadier 4×4 will be built in a bespoke new manufacturing facility in Bridgend and will initially create 200 jobs and up to 500 in the long term / Picture: INEOS Automotive
INEOS Group Chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, said: “We have looked long and hard at possible manufacturing locations for Grenadier across the world with lots of good options to choose from. The decision to build in the UK is a significant expression of confidence in British manufacturing, which has always been at the heart of what INEOS stands for.”
Welsh Government Economy and Transport Minister, Ken Skates, added: “Today’s announcement is great news for Wales and I’m delighted INEOS Automotive will be setting up home in Bridgend which has a long history of skilled manufacturing expertise. The Welsh Government has worked closely with the company to make this happen and I look forward to seeing the development of the new site progress ahead of the planned start of production in 2021.”
INEOS Automotive has confirmed that in parallel, it will be investing in a sub-assembly plant in Estarreja, Portugal. The facility will produce the Grenadier’s body and chassis, working in conjunction with INEOS’s European supply chain partners.
INEOS Automotive is investing a total of £600m in the Grenadier project with production due to start in 2021 / Picture: INEOS Automotive
Dirk Heilmann, Chief Executive Officer of INEOS Automotive, concluded: “Confirming production in the UK, as well as our investment in Portugal, is a major milestone for the project. We are progressing well with the design and engineering work, as well as our marketing and distribution plans. In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing more information about the Grenadier, and engaging with local suppliers, the community and region, in advance of the start of production in 2021.”