2023 Ineos Grenadier: $13k price rise and delays explained

Keen observers of the global automotive market won't be surprised to learn why the hotly anticipated Ineos Grenadier will cost more than originally planned, and why its local launch is taking longer than expected.

As reported in late 2022, ongoing worldwide manufacturing and logistics cost escalations have forced Ineos to pump up pricing of its hardcore four-wheel drive, with Grenadier ticket prices increasing between $12,500 and $13,030 in 2023.

In a story common to all brands and buyers since COVID arrived on the stage, the price increase and delays are being blamed on rising production costs and constrained global logistics.

There's a silver lining for some buyers, though. Pricing for orders placed last year will not be slapped with the increase, but Ineos Australia CEO Justin Hocevar explained that the Grenadier’s debut been pushed back by about four weeks.

“Australian cars have already started to be built,” he said. “Once they’re on the water in January they will turn up late March and we should see them on the road in April.”

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Hocevar confirmed the manufacturing and supply challenges facing many vehicle brands are also affecting its own production operations in Hambach, France. And, while the company had absorbed the extra costs for initial orders, it is now filtering through to customer orders in 2023.

“We’re always impacted by logistics timing which is protracted at the moment – there are not as many sailings, it’s a lot more expensive and it’s been really hard to get," Hocevar said.

“Material cost, energy cost, the logistics cost had all gone up significantly so we had to take our medicine on that.”

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Pricing for the entry Grenadier Utility Wagon and Station Wagon has now risen to $97,000 and $98,000 respectively, while the higher-spec Trialmaster and Fieldmaster now cost $109,525, all before on-road costs.

The price of the company’s second key model – the Double Cab Pick-Up – is yet to be revealed.

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The company has already established a network of 29 ‘agents’ across Australia with a focus on servicing more rural areas, with more sales centres and service workshops planned as the number of local Grenadier customers grows.

“We can’t just pop up in big urban islands like a direct-to-consumer electric vehicle brand. We had to have the credibility of a network. That’s why we’ve skewed it so heavily to regional areas.

“We don’t necessarily need sales and service in every location, but we’re certainly looking to open more service outlets”, said Hocevar.