RE: INEOS Grenadier officially unveiled

[DonkeyApple]

Seems an odd move but it already has a French name.

Napoleon loved using Grenadiers while Wellington preferred the use of Forlorn Hopes.

[LimaDelta]

595Heaven said:

INEOS expected to announce today that Grenadier production will be based in France, not Bridgend.

Mercedes selling off the old Smart factory... INEOS sponsor the F1 team...

I can't say that would influence my decision on whether or not to purchase one. It's a car you either need, or you don't.

I suspect it may put some potential buyers off though.

[fatbutt]

595Heaven said:

INEOS expected to announce today that Grenadier production will be based in France, not Bridgend.

Mercedes selling off the old Smart factory... INEOS sponsor the F1 team...

Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 7th July 10:23

Hopefully its a contractual strategy to get better rates, grants, etc. from the UK government re. building in Wales.

[InitialDave]

Bit disappointing, though I can see why it makes sense to do that

[growlerowl]

595Heaven said:

INEOS expected to announce today that Grenadier production will be based in France, not Bridgend.

Mercedes selling off the old Smart factory... INEOS sponsor the F1 team...

Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 7th July 10:23

If this pans out they've lost me as a potential customer. I think it would be a big mistake in terms of UK sales.

[595Heaven]

Looking at the plant on Google Earth, Magna Steyr have a chassis systems plant next door, so I expect they will be the ones taking the plant on and will build the whole thing under contract rather than the previous plan of BIW and chassis being built in Portugal, then shipped to Bridgend to meet the German sourced Powertrains for final assembly. There would have needed to be a paintshop somewhere as well which aren’t cheap.

As Smarts were mostly plastic coloured panels stuck onto the Tridion safety frame, there may not actually be a proper paint shop there, but this way potentially means they can do the whole assembly operation on one site. Would be funny if the lines were built to only accommodate Smart sized vehicles though...

https://goo.gl/maps/sLJ9GC6ZKwy2JdZV8

Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 7th July 11:09

[soxboy]

Article on Autocar website:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/confir...

I can't see a way forward for Wales on this one.

[300bhp/ton]

growlerowl said:

595Heaven said:

INEOS expected to announce today that Grenadier production will be based in France, not Bridgend.

Mercedes selling off the old Smart factory... INEOS sponsor the F1 team...

Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 7th July 10:23

If this pans out they've lost me as a potential customer. I think it would be a big mistake in terms of UK sales.

Just as a curiosity. What cars are you driving now? And do you only buy British built vehicles?

[AngryPartsBloke]

soxboy said:

Article on Autocar website:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/confir...

I can't see a way forward for Wales on this one.

P6 will be pleased.

[growlerowl]

300bhp/ton said:

Just as a curiosity. What cars are you driving now? And do you only buy British built vehicles?

It being a reasonable approximation of an updated Defender was a big draw for me, and part of that would have been the heritage of being built in Britain. As things stand I'll probably look at a Discovery - I'm after a reasonable off roader to fit out for camping.
Not sure how the other questions are relevant unless you're trying to score points.

[anonymous-user]

The built in Britain built was always gong to be a stretch, more knock down kits.

[braddo]

595Heaven said:

INEOS expected to announce today that Grenadier production will be based in France, not Bridgend.

Mercedes selling off the old Smart factory... INEOS sponsor the F1 team...

It would have the benefit of drivetrain, chassis and assembly all being in one trading zone (and costs of manufacture being in one currency). It reduces the risk of tariffs on the imported drivetrain and chassis into the UK and of tariffs on sales of UK-made vehicles into the EU (as well as inevitable non-tariff barriers).

What an irony it would be if Brexit supporting, Monaco dwelling Jim Ratcliffe's dream of creating a new iconic UK 4x4 is actually an EU vehicle and uneconomic to produce in the UK.

[300bhp/ton]

growlerowl said:

It being a reasonable approximation of an updated Defender was a big draw for me, and part of that would have been the heritage of being built in Britain. As things stand I'll probably look at a Discovery - I'm after a reasonable off roader to fit out for camping.
Not sure how the other questions are relevant unless you're trying to score points.

Surely it's relevant if you are saying you would buy if it was built in Britain, but absolutely wouldn't if built elsewhere.

And while it may owe much to the Defender. Let's not forget it isn't actually one. And has none of the actual heritage. So I'm curious, if you do own or buy vehicles not made in Britain. Are you maybe being a little reactionary by declaring you wouldn't buy a Grenadier on the sole basis it isn't built in Britain?

[Evanivitch]

fatbutt said:

Hopefully its a contractual strategy to get better rates, grants, etc. from the UK government re. building in Wales.

I doubt that will get far, Welsh Government have already thrown everything including the kitchen sink at it.

[Leithen]

Are there going to be 3 volumes of argument about how to pronounce the name Grenadier now? Grenadeer or Grenadiay?

[growlerowl]

braddo said:

It would have the benefit of drivetrain, chassis and assembly all being in one trading zone (and costs of manufacture being in one currency). It reduces the risk of tariffs on the imported drivetrain and chassis into the UK and of tariffs on sales of UK-made vehicles into the EU (as well as inevitable non-tariff barriers).

What an irony it would be if Brexit supporting, Monaco dwelling Jim Ratcliffe's dream of creating a new iconic UK 4x4 is actually an EU vehicle and uneconomic to produce in the UK.

Yeah idk if your characterisation is particularly accurate really. I'd say JR's approach has always been more nuanced - INEOS own a big site in Antwerp that's been a critical part of their business for years, and they've also been putting money into various non-core EU endeavours for years such as sports sponsorship (I personally think it's a defensive strategy against co2 campaigners etc, as hurting INEOS will also hurt all those people getting INEOS money).

[camel_landy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53317740

M

[braddo]

growlerowl said:

Yeah idk if your characterisation is particularly accurate really. I'd say JR's approach has always been more nuanced - INEOS own a big site in Antwerp that's been a critical part of their business for years, and they've also been putting money into various non-core EU endeavours for years such as sports sponsorship (I personally think it's a defensive strategy against co2 campaigners etc, as hurting INEOS will also hurt all those people getting INEOS money).

Sure, it's just an 'if'.

I think it will be a real factor in the future but the big benefit now would seem to be a pre-existing factory in a good location for logistics (e.g. if it's near a Magna Steyre facility and it removes the Portugal aspect).

[growlerowl]

300bhp/ton said:

Surely it's relevant if you are saying you would buy if it was built in Britain, but absolutely wouldn't if built elsewhere.

And while it may owe much to the Defender. Let's not forget it isn't actually one. And has none of the actual heritage. So I'm curious, if you do own or buy vehicles not made in Britain. Are you maybe being a little reactionary by declaring you wouldn't buy a Grenadier on the sole basis it isn't built in Britain?

You can call me reactionary or whatever else pleases you - I really dgaf

[anonymous-user]

With Brexit, the EU can offer more support and help and security.