Ineos in 2025+
Discussion
Since going for a spin in a Grenadier at Goodwood last Summer, where the rep was effusive about the future of the business, everything seems very quiet at Ineos motors. Ratcliffe's sporting investments are struggling across the board - redundancies at United, cancelling contracts in New Zealand, downfall of the cycling team. I wonder if the motors business isn't dissimilar.
I remember they had a supplier fail in the Autumn, a quick google and reportedly the vehicles are back in production again after what must have been quite a substantial disruption. But it all feels rather quiet - has the motors business been secret squirrels in the workshop do we think, or is the business fading away with Sir Jim's hands full at Old Trafford? Or is the old boy just skint?
I remember they had a supplier fail in the Autumn, a quick google and reportedly the vehicles are back in production again after what must have been quite a substantial disruption. But it all feels rather quiet - has the motors business been secret squirrels in the workshop do we think, or is the business fading away with Sir Jim's hands full at Old Trafford? Or is the old boy just skint?
There's a comprehensive story in the Guardian on Ineos.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/15/c...
re cars there's this.
"Ineos Automotive has burned through €1.4bn since 2018, and it had another €2.3bn in debt at the end of 2023."
re the pub (the Grenadier) there's this
"The pub reported a loss of £1.4m in 2023, despite Ineos Automotive spending €400,000 there, according to company accounts."
Summary: Chemicals was great business to be in for 20 years. Now, not so much.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/15/c...
re cars there's this.
"Ineos Automotive has burned through €1.4bn since 2018, and it had another €2.3bn in debt at the end of 2023."
re the pub (the Grenadier) there's this
"The pub reported a loss of £1.4m in 2023, despite Ineos Automotive spending €400,000 there, according to company accounts."
Summary: Chemicals was great business to be in for 20 years. Now, not so much.
I honestly struggle to see a future for the Brand without the " Big Jim " subsidy and I don't say this to cause argument though would welcome debate .
Its such a specialised marketplace where Ineos are currently situated with the Grenadier , a bit like a more accessible Unimog .
The Brand in my humble opinion urgently wants stretching into the "soft" SUV marketplace similar to what Landrover did with the Range Rover back in the Seventies and later with the Discovery and Evoque . I doubt " Big Jim " for many reasons has that desire or plan and if not , Grenadier Owners have ended up purchasing a vanity project .
Its such a specialised marketplace where Ineos are currently situated with the Grenadier , a bit like a more accessible Unimog .
The Brand in my humble opinion urgently wants stretching into the "soft" SUV marketplace similar to what Landrover did with the Range Rover back in the Seventies and later with the Discovery and Evoque . I doubt " Big Jim " for many reasons has that desire or plan and if not , Grenadier Owners have ended up purchasing a vanity project .
reddiesel said:
I honestly struggle to see a future for the Brand without the " Big Jim " subsidy and I don't say this to cause argument though would welcome debate .
Its such a specialised marketplace where Ineos are currently situated with the Grenadier , a bit like a more accessible Unimog .
The Brand in my humble opinion urgently wants stretching into the "soft" SUV marketplace similar to what Landrover did with the Range Rover back in the Seventies and later with the Discovery and Evoque . I doubt " Big Jim " for many reasons has that desire or plan and if not , Grenadier Owners have ended up purchasing a vanity project .
I think you're right, I can't see how the business sustains itself within the rugged off-roader segment alone.Its such a specialised marketplace where Ineos are currently situated with the Grenadier , a bit like a more accessible Unimog .
The Brand in my humble opinion urgently wants stretching into the "soft" SUV marketplace similar to what Landrover did with the Range Rover back in the Seventies and later with the Discovery and Evoque . I doubt " Big Jim " for many reasons has that desire or plan and if not , Grenadier Owners have ended up purchasing a vanity project .
My understanding is that the Ineos car project began, because Sir Jim was disappointed that the traditional Land Rover Defender was being discontinued.
Is the replacement Land Rover Defender model a greater success than was originally anticipated?
I see a surprising number of these vehicles on UK roads, so Land Rover are probably pleased with the sales numbers.
Land Rover are selling cars that the majority of people want. That’s a business decision, a strategy to make lots of money and I’m sure it’s working very well.
New Defender is quite a different product to the Grenadier which is a much more niche utility vehicle. Think of the Grenadier as more like an alternative to a pickup truck.
There’s room in the market place for both, I don’t think many Defender buyers would consider an Ineos and vice versa. Anyone who could buy one could have bought the other.
I see a lot more Defenders on the road than Grenadiers in the same way I see a lot more mx5’s or z4’s or mini convertibles than Caterhams.
New Defender is quite a different product to the Grenadier which is a much more niche utility vehicle. Think of the Grenadier as more like an alternative to a pickup truck.
There’s room in the market place for both, I don’t think many Defender buyers would consider an Ineos and vice versa. Anyone who could buy one could have bought the other.
I see a lot more Defenders on the road than Grenadiers in the same way I see a lot more mx5’s or z4’s or mini convertibles than Caterhams.
Ineos are not happy with the EU (but surprisingly not Trump or the UK).
https://www.motortradenews.com/featured/ineos-auto...
https://www.motortradenews.com/featured/ineos-auto...
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