The INEOS Group, created by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will soon build three models at its Hambach manufacturing facility in Germany.
The group this week confirmed that it will add a fully electric 4x4 to its range. The model will not simply be a revised version of the current INEOS, but will sit on its own, slightly smaller, platform. The platform will be derived from the original Grenadier platform.
According to INEOS, the new model will retain the hard-working ethos of the Grenadier and will be built at the same factory as the Grenadier and the soon-to-be-launched Grenadier pick-up.
The company also confirmed that it’s backing hydrogen as the long-term solution for clean energy and that it will soon start testing this technology in the Grenadier.
In South Africa, the INEOS business is run by Tim Abbott, the previous CEO of BMW in the country. Abbott handed over the keys of BMW in 2020, and he now runs INEOS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Abbott recently confirmed to Dealerfloor that it has partnered with the SMH Group to create dealers in Johannesburg and Pretoria and with SMG in Cape Town and Durban. The order book for the five-door Grenadier opened on 18 May this year, and INEOS has confirmed that the first deliveries will take place in October.
The first Grenadier to land in SA will be powered by the choice of a six-cylinder BMW-sourced engine in either petrol or diesel. Pricing is expected to start at R1 395 000.
South Africa's automotive sector is set for a significant transformation as Chinese and Indian vehicle manufacturers prepare to shift from basic assembly operations to full-scale local production.
Lightstone Auto has rolled out a cutting-edge integration designed to transform how alternative lenders, rent-to-own providers and niche finance firms engage with dealerships.
Uber announced the next phase of its low-cost mobility journey with the expansion of its Uber Moto product to include Uber Go Electric in South Africa.
Advertisement
Advertisement
If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.
Bob Hooey
South Africa's automotive sector is set for a significant transformation as Chinese and Indian vehicle manufacturers prepare to shift from basic assembly operations to full-scale local production.
South Africa’s automotive landscape has shifted in recent years as new Chinese brands enter the market, sparking both curiosity and scepticism as each promises better value and a fresher approach.
Ford has officially ceased production of its Focus with the last versions coming of the line at the Saarlouis plant in Germany, drawing to a close more than five decades of manufacturing history.
