INEOS Grenadier sold out until 2023

Australia to be world’s fourth-biggest market for 4x4 off-roader as 1000 orders already slammed down

It’s not even rolling down the production line yet but already the 2022 INEOS Grenadier is proving popular with Aussies.

The British-based start-up that plans to revive the legend of the original Land Rover Defender says it is holding around 1000 local orders, which translates to the first 12 months of planned sales for the INEOS Grenadier.

The Asia-Pacific head for of the Land Rover-inspired start-up brand, Justin Hocevar, said the company has had Aussies queuing to own the hard-core 4x4 off-roader a year before first customer deliveries begin from mid-2022.

And rather than simply expressing interest, those 1000 prospective buyers have put down an $800 refundable deposit as the sole development car currently undergoing testing locally embarks on a national roadshow.

carsales has also just taken its first ride in the Grenadier, with our shotgun review now live.

“We’re punching above our weight [with the Grenadier] as far as interest per capita,” said Hocevar, adding that Australia is firming as the fourth-biggest market for the brand, behind the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

The Grenadier was conceived over pints in a British pub as executives mulled a plan to revive the legend of the Defender. The pub was called the Grenadier.

Those who have currently reserved a place in the queue with their deposit will be able to convert that into a firm order in March 2022.

It’s then they’ll choose the colour, options and whether they want the BMW-supplied 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel or turbo-petrol engine.

Pricing starts from $84,500 plus on-road costs.

Predictably, Hocevar expects the diesel to be the big seller for a model that is marketed as a commercial vehicle and highly capable adventure machine.

Hocevar is already lobbying the UK-based headquarters of the global chemicals giant for more stock, with plans to “take those reservations and condense them into a shorter [delivery] period”.

Equally important will be the certification of the Grenadier, which will initially be offered as a two-seat and five-seat wagon and, later, a dual-cab ute.

Hocevar said the hope is to obtain NB1 certification for the Grenadier in Australia, which allows for a gross vehicle mass above 3500kg and classifies it as a commercial vehicle.

“Our preference is for it to be a true commercial vehicle,” he said.

Various modified off-roaders and motorhomes use the NB1 classification, as do the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter.

While Hocevar insisted “it’s still a capable passenger car”, the focus for the Grenadier is on capability and dependability.

“We’re marketing this as a true workhorse, a true commercial vehicle,” he said.

Hocevar nominated emergency services such as SES and fire departments as being potential targets for the Grenadier.

And he believes the forthcoming Grenadier dual-cab ute could bring in much bigger volume than the wagon.

Crucially, that NB1 classification could open the door for the Grenadier to be sold to various government departments and fleets that may otherwise not have considered it if it received the more common MC classification used for utes and off-road wagons.

“We’re aware that there are some restrictions on [mine] sites [regarding ANCAP safety ratings] but it’s also type approval category dependent and we haven’t confirmed our final type approval category yet,” said Hocevar.

“[NB1 is] not a category that’s rated [for ANCAP safety].”

This potentially opens the door to big mining companies such as BHP to pop the Grenadier on its consideration list; BHP has a five-star ANCAP policy but only for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

Hocevar said INEOS Australia has already been approached by some smaller mining companies who want to learn more about the Grenadier.

The NB1 classification also unlocks potential advantages with fringe benefits tax and how it is applied.