In general yes. You'll find the sales numbers from some key markets here, except Australia
They never reached the numbers requested from suppliers, not in 2023, not in 2024. 2023 not even 50% were reached, 2024 we'll see around 10.00 to 15.000 units worldwide. Come on, be serious, if the best running market the US (statement of Lynn Calder) saw a sale of 4956 units up to September, my assumption is feasable.On the other hand there are many expensive problems and in the beginning expensive measurements to mitigate them.
In short words....sold too less cars while asked for too much parts and beside other costs around 1.500 employees to feed (Recaro Automotive has around 250).
Saying Ineos saw the writings at the wall for Recaro and stops tĥeir own production, loosing a key part, while starting in an absolutely key market, (China) that is not feasable. If Ineos Automotive is such a clever, powerful and potent company money-wise, as often claimed here, they would have sat together with Recaro and talk together how to get that solved. Simply to keep things running and not to harm their cash flow and production. You do not just jump off and break your own leg. In the meanwhile they could have started looking for other seat supplier.
As I wrote here already about the history of Recaro they had not one customer, except Ineos, that fits their whole range with their seats. They had financial trouble the last two years (known to automotive people, media and visible via company reports) and their owners forced them to produce performance seats only. That kicked them our of the mass market and they more and more relied on the sale of spare parts.If VW and Audi rejected, that is bad, yes. But the volumes were low due to what I just wrote. It was clearly stated that they need an(other) Ineos. Another question arises here...if the writings were at the wall...and that was already the case years earlier, why has Ineos choosen them for such an important part? A clear management failure to go with that risk. Companys incl. Ineos do financial checks before they start with a new supplier already for less important parts and smaller volumes. What has happened here? Why was that overseen? And by looking at the car you find more cost driving wrong tactical management descisions, visible to everyone, you do not need to be an internal guy for that.
That all has nothing to do with how much you love your car and love to drive it, if it is good or bad. That is a step back driven by common sense without an emotional view on it. Because I do not own one but was involved in that project since May 2016 for about 4 or 5 years, I can have this kind of unemotional view.
Owning and driving a Grenadier does make you a car specialist, but you do not need that to know Ineos.
AWo