Europe Model year differences and how do I know what model year my vehicle is?

[Mad Hatter]

New member here with a question on model year changes……

Back in March this year I specced and ordered a grenadier 5 seat utility and was advised by Ineos to expect delivery in September, this expectation continued right up until the 19th of September when I received notification from Ineos that production of my car was going to be delayed until some time in 2025. This was obviously disappointing but fortunately my dealer had a vehicle in stock that met my needs and I was able to cancel my original order and buy the stock vehicle which I will collect in a couple of weeks time ( trialmaster in eldoret blue ). I’m happy with this outcome but I’m intrigued as to what model year my new car will be and whether it will have the ADAS speed warning clicker or the larger reversing camera display. The vehicle I’m buying was originally ordered on 1/8/23 and received and registered by the dealer on 1/2/24. Do you think that would make it a 23.5 model year without the ADAS speed warning and with the smaller reversing camera display?

Any insight appreciated and apologies to moderators if I’ve posted this in the wrong place

 

[DoubleDoom]

but I’m intrigued as to what model year my new car will be and whether it will have the ADAS speed warning clicker or the larger reversing camera display.

Factory went MY24 around March. (not to be confused with US vehicles which dealers refer to MY24 but seem to be either MY23.5 and MY24).

European cars being sold as new have to have the ADAS turned on. So, either they have retrofitted an MY23.5, it's an MY24, or it's being sold as secondhand.

The vehicle I’m buying was originally ordered on 1/8/23 and received and registered by the dealer on 1/2/24. Do you think that would make it a 23.5 model year without the ADAS speed warning and with the smaller reversing camera display?

The exact date when MY24 is unclear. However, if it was registered in February, then it was probably built in December or January. So, that makes it more likely to be a MY23.5.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Thanks for the comprehensive answer. I’ll contact my dealer to clarify what I’m getting. I’m happy either way though as it’s a higher spec vehicle than the one I originally ordered.

 

[Mad Hatter]

My dealer has confirmed it’s a 24 model with ADAS and larger reversing camera display. Can’t wait to pick this car up!

 

[DoubleDoom]

When you said registered in February, did you mean registration plate? (that is what made me think it was a 23.5). If you meant something else, such as allocation of VIN then it would suggest that the factory moved to MY24 earlier than March. It takes 2-3 months from factory build to get to the UK. - although your location says France, despite your flag. So, deliveries are probably quicker in France.

When I bought in April, I had been looking for a month and the first dealer (not the one I ended buying from) was the one that told me they only had MY23.5 in stock across the country and the factory was just changing to MY24.

Hopefully you will enjoy it. Most do. I do.

 

[Mad Hatter]

I’m a Brit but I live in France and that’s where I’m buying the car (LHD). I think I miss translated the invoice as the car hasn’t been registered yet

 

[ForceV4]

I’m a Brit but I live in France and that’s where I’m buying the car (LHD). I think I miss translated the invoice as the car hasn’t been registered yet

Is it true about heavy luxury tax on Grenadiers in France? I heard a rumor that it was to the tune of 30%, and thought I’d ask.

 

[Dual Grenny Guy]

Is it true about heavy luxury tax on Grenadiers in France? I heard a rumor that it was to the tune of 30%, and thought I’d ask.

Yikes that’s more than the USA “chicken tax” on imported trucks. I never heard about this tax in France before now, and of all places were it is actually built/assembled (if true)!! Can someone in that area confirm this is true or not? Now I’m curious….

 

[Mad Hatter]

Is it true about heavy luxury tax on Grenadiers in France? I heard a rumor that it was to the tune of 30%, and thought I’d ask.

Not a luxury tax but an ecological ‘malus’ tax which is proportional to the weight and emissions of the vehicle. The tax has to be paid when the vehicle is first registered. For a diesel grenadier the tax would be €60,000 (yup, sixty thousand, you read that right) on top of the purchase price. The only way to get around this is to buy a ‘commercial version’ without the side windows in the back and with slightly less legroom in the rear. With the commercial version you don’t have to pay the malus. In France this is even better than the UK where they make you pay the tax on the commercial variant (which is only 2 seat in the UK) and then if you have your own business you can claim the tax back when you do your tax return.

I’m picking my grenadier up on Saturday and I’m very excited about it, probably more so than with any other car I’ve owned

 

[ForceV4]

Not a luxury tax but an ecological ‘malus’ tax which is proportional to the weight and emissions of the vehicle. The tax has to be paid when the vehicle is first registered. For a diesel grenadier the tax would be €60,000 (yup, sixty thousand, you read that right) on top of the purchase price. The only way to get around this is to buy a ‘commercial version’ without the side windows in the back and with slightly less legroom in the rear. With the commercial version you don’t have to pay the malus. In France this is even better than the UK where they make you pay the tax on the commercial variant (which is only 2 seat in the UK) and then if you have your own business you can claim the tax back when you do your tax return.

I’m picking my grenadier up on Saturday and I’m very excited about it, probably more so than with any other car I’ve owned

Wow - that’s amazing! I had no idea it was that high. Thank you for sharing that information. I have considered purchasing a small home in Sarthe Department (Le Mans area) since I am there each year anyway. But for a car, we are thinking of a Twingo or a Peugeot (something small). - Mark

 

[Mad Hatter]

Wow - that’s amazing! I had no idea it was that high. Thank you for sharing that information. I have considered purchasing a small home in Sarthe Department (Le Mans area) since I am there each year anyway. But for a car, we are thinking of a Twingo or a Peugeot (something small). - Mark

With a small car or a hybrid you will be fine the tax will be very low. My wife just bought a Nissan x trail hybrid and paid a very low tax because it was very low emissions

 

[landmannnn]

Not a luxury tax but an ecological ‘malus’ tax which is proportional to the weight and emissions of the vehicle. The tax has to be paid when the vehicle is first registered. For a diesel grenadier the tax would be €60,000 (yup, sixty thousand, you read that right) on top of the purchase price. The only way to get around this is to buy a ‘commercial version’ without the side windows in the back and with slightly less legroom in the rear. With the commercial version you don’t have to pay the malus. In France this is even better than the UK where they make you pay the tax on the commercial variant (which is only 2 seat in the UK) and then if you have your own business you can claim the tax back when you do your tax return.

I’m picking my grenadier up on Saturday and I’m very excited about it, probably more so than with any other car I’ve owned

The malus is increasing to €70k in 2026.