HAMBACH PLANT IS ‘GRENADIER READY’ AS INEOS AUTOMOTIVE COMPLETES TRANSITION TO FULLY OPERATIONAL OEM

[Jeremy996]

EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 GMT ON 16 FEBRUARY 2022HAMBACH PLANT IS ‘GRENADIER READY’ AS INEOS AUTOMOTIVE COMPLETES TRANSITION TO FULLY OPERATIONAL OEM 

• The first production try-out Grenadiers are rolling off the line at INEOS Automotive’s state-of-the-art Hambach plant in preparation for launch series vehicles in July
• INEOS acquired Hambach from Mercedes-Benz in January 2021 and is investing in facilities and the highly skilled workforce to build on the site’s long-standing reputation
• Hambach is only 200km from INEOS Automotive’s operational base in Stuttgart 
• Customers will be able to finalise orders online or with their local retailer from April  

London, 16 February 2022 – Production prototypes rolling off the line at INEOS Automotive’s Hambach plant signal the final stage in the company’s transition from ‘project’ to automotive manufacturer.Since acquiring Hambach in January 2021, INEOS has invested over €50m in addition to the €470m invested in 2019 by Mercedes-Benz in an all-new production line. The line now dedicated to the Grenadier includes a new fully-automated bodyshop, a new semi-automated paintshop, and an upgraded general assembly facility. Hambach also benefits from a new high-tech quality assessment centre.Having taken just 12 months to reconfigure the new line for the Grenadier, INEOS is nearing the end of a first production try-out (PTO1) phase. Building 130 PTO1 Grenadiers is crucial for defining the assembly process and also provides the engineering team with production-representative vehicles for final rounds of testing and certification.The PTO2 phase starts in March to validate the assembly process and build quality, before production of launch series vehicles proves out the supply chain, logistics, and build rate.In parallel, preparations in all commercial parts of the business continue at pace to ensure INEOS is ready for customers. Over 100 sales and service partners around the world have been nominated, and contracts have been signed with parts distribution and retail finance partners.“Some 15,000 customers worldwide have reserved their Grenadier,” said Dirk Heilmann, CEO of INEOS Automotive. “We want to deliver a vehicle that’s ready, and we won’t cut corners. With the benefit of the highly skilled and experienced team at Hambach, as well as the expertise in safety and quality that we have employed, we are on target to begin series production in July.”Full pricing and specifications will be announced in April 2022, when customers in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East can finalise their orders either directly with INEOS online, or via their local retailer. North America will follow later this year.-Ends-Contact details: Sarah Pelling, Head of PR, INEOS Automotive +44 (0) 7887 451773   sarah.pelling@ineos.com Matt Moore, PFPR Communications+44 (0) 7715 075992matt.moore@pfpr.comAbout INEOS Grenadier In 2017, INEOS Chairman Jim Ratcliffe, a car enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for a stripped back, utilitarian, hard-working 4x4 engineered for modern day compliance and reliability. INEOS Automotive Limited was formed and a senior team of automotive professionals assembled to bring the vision to reality with a fresh perspective of 4x4 development and manufacturing. Combining rugged British spirit and design with German engineering rigour, the Grenadier will be a truly uncompromising 4x4 built from the ground up. Engineered to overcome all conditions, it will provide best-in-class off-road capability, durability, and reliability to those who depend on a vehicle as a working tool, wherever they are in the world. INEOS Automotive is a subsidiary of INEOS Group http://www.ineos.com), a leading manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products. It employs 26,000 people across 36 businesses, with a production network spanning 194 manufacturing facilities in 29 countries. From paints to plastics, textiles to technology, medicines to mobile phones, materials manufactured by INEOS enhance almost every aspect of modern life. In 2019, INEOS had sales of circa $61bn and EBITDA of around $6bn. To find out more about Grenadier, visit www.ineosgrenadier.com 

 

[Spjnr]

Thanks for sharing Jeremy. Looks as though everything is proceeding in a timely manner. Hopefully before April we will get some more info on UK based dealers, and the purchasing process 

 

[DCPU]

So more details on the value of Hambach to Ineos, and I have to say 10 cents on the dollar seems exceptional value.

And Hambach seemed to be in very rude health in period ending 31st December 2021. Ineos made nearly 10 times the acquisition cost in profit in just under 12 months.

Other relevant info for the future:

 

[DCPU]

This is, I think, the first recall notice issued for Hambach since Ineos took over.

 

[Tazzieman]

Glad I didn't order one of those death traoa!

 

[Jean Mercier]

This is, I think, the first recall notice issued for Hambach since Ineos took over.

OK, but most probably not related to INEOS at all, because they didn't engineer that car! The Smart is German engineering

 

[DCPU]

Yes, it's inconclusive as to whether it's an engineering issue or assembly issue; but I'd have a small wager on it being the latter.

 

[Jean Mercier]

Yes, it's inconclusive as to whether it's an engineering issue or assembly issue; but I'd have a small wager on it being the latter.

It was already "in production" before INEOS came in!

 

[DCPU]

This recall specifically relates to vehicles with production dates between 28th April and 4th October 2022, so entirely on Ineos' watch.

 

[Jean Mercier]

This recall specifically relates to vehicles with production dates between 28th April and 4th October 2022, so entirely on Ineos' watch.

OK, you have a point there!

 

[DCPU]

So let's agree to delete posts #8 to #10, as they add nothing to this thread?