"Designing, engineering, building prototypes is one thing – but productionising is quite another. That’s where the tough stuff happens in the industry, and God it’s been tough, I have to say,’ Ineos Automotive commercial director Mark Tennant told CAR. ‘We’ve had all sorts of challenges – the challenges of bringing Grenadier into albeit a great facility at Hambach, but then overlaying on that all the difficulties that we’re having in common with the rest of the industry, in terms of supply-chain issues, suppliers in Russia, all sorts of things we’ve had to contend with, over and above.’
He added: ‘Those supply-chain issues in particular aren’t done with. So we’re going to be ramping up very gently, to make sure we don’t create problems for ourselves in lots of line stops if things don’t turn up in the volumes we expect, because it continues to be a frustration. We won’t actually start delivering volume until early December – that’s when things will start to ramp up, when we can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Everything crossed, and hoping for following winds, because it ain’t easy.’
‘We’re going to keep on planning and re-planning. We’ve done quite a lot of resourcing, so we’re not afflicted by what’s going on to the east of us. Covid, in terms of shutdowns in China, like everybody that’s been a problem. Things have opened up a bit, they have eased, but it’s a full-time job being on the planning side.’
He said customers had been understanding. ‘We have got some very patient, very enthusiastic customers. We are absolutely thrilled with the level of engagement. They are very understanding. They are seeing the big picture on the wider industry. So to some extent it’s assumed that there will be the odd delay.
‘We really don’t want to test the patience. But the general feedback is: get it right, guys. Get the qualty right. We can afford to wait. We’ve been waiting a while anyway because of the build-up we’ve had over a few years now. Just get it right and bring it to us when you’re ready. That’s never to be taken for granted, but so far, so good.’
Dealers had also accepted that Ineos was doing everything it could. ‘We’ve got the signage going out to them, we’re doing the training for their people, so there’s lots to be getting on with.’
The first cars would mostly be going to the UK, Western Europe and Australia, with US deliveries starting later next year.
‘There’s been quite high uptake around the world on the Trialmaster and Fieldmaster Belstaff editions with the higher spec. The Trialmaster is the more 4×4 focused, with the three diff locks. The Fieldmaster’s a little bit more comfy. Generally quite a high uptake on those. It varies around the world – more utilitarian in Australia, for example.’
Was there a silver lining to the delays? ‘Doing quality loops and having more time for the vehicle to be matured is never a bad thing,’ said Tennant. ‘There are always going to be issues to be fixed, and that has been useful. I’d much rather not have needed the sliver lining and be moving forward more quickly.
‘But all time is useful, in terms of let’s go through the process one more time. The quality centre at Hambach, the destructive testing we can do to check on the integrity of the body. There’s always going to be refinement.’
The Ineos Grenadier will be built in France, not Wales
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