The first Ineos Grenadier vehicles destined for customers will arrive in South Africa in October next year, says Ineos Automotive South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa head Tim Abbott.

If the name sounds familiar, it is because Abbott is the former boss of the BMW group in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

The Grenadier, which has been called the spiritual successor of the former Land Rover Defender, will be sold in South Africa using a direct sales model, such as the one Abbott pioneered for BMW South Africa.

For customers who prefer not to do almost everything online, the 4 x 4 will be available at three full sales and service points in South Africa, with one each in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

Ineos Automotive has signed agreements with two partners to run these three retail and service sites, namely Southern Motor Holdings, which will cover Gauteng, and the Sean McCarthy Group, which will be responsible for Cape Town and Durban.

Additional hand-picked service-only sites will provide further aftersales coverage, says Abbott.

A so-called ‘flying spanner’ has also already been appointed, standing ready to salvage any stranded Grenadier in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ineos Automotive is also in discussion with auto retailers to establish sites in Namibia and Botswana for a 2022 launch, providing full sales and aftersales operations. 

Further retail partners will be appointed in Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana and Ivory Coast. Ineos Automotive will launch in Angola, Kenya and Senegal with distributor partners.

Abbott says Ineos Automotive South Africa is exploring opportunities with BMW South Africa to also make use of the German car maker’s service network, as the Grenadier utilises BMW’s six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

Pricing for the Grenadier will start from R1.4-million, with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty in the works.

Abbott says he is targeting the sale of 100 vehicles in 2022, and 1 000 vehicles at peak volume in 2026, with similar volumes across sub-Saharan Africa, which presents the company with “a viable business model”.

The company is also looking closely at an accessorisation programme, involving a number of local companies. 

The Grenadier is assembled at the former Mercedes-Benz plant in Hambach, France, now the property of Ineos.

Ineos Automotive is also developing a double-cab bakkie version of the Grenadier.

Ineos Automotive was founded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire chairperson of the multinational chemicals company Ineos.

“I have joined a new brand with a brand-new vehicle,” says Abbott.

“I got a chance to help shape the company, which is very innovative in the way it is going to market, in the way it wants to look after its customers.

“It also gives me a chance to stay in South Africa, my chosen country to live in, so I am delighted to be part of this team.”