Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Automotive confirms electric off-roader for 2026

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Automotive has today confirmed plans to add an electric 4X4 to its model line-up from 2026, as it accelerates its zero-emission intentions.

Expected to be smaller than the Grenadier SUV, the new model is already under development in Austria and will use batteries rather than hydrogen power.

That’s despite the brand’s partnership with Korean car firm Hyundai to trial hydrogen fuel cell technology for passenger vehicles.

With Land Rover expected to launch its electric version of the Defender around the same time, the new model could see petrochemicals billionaire Ratcliffe go head-to-head with the British car giant once again.

A 2026 launch date for the new Ineos will put it on a direct collision course with the electric Land Rover Defender, which is expected to be unveiled around the same time (Pictured, a Land Rover Defender plug-in hybrid)

The unnamed electric Ineos will follow in the tyre tracks of the combustion-powered Ineos Grenadier, which is now being delivered to customers in the UK.

While the Grenadier is produced at the company’s recently-acquired Hambach plant on the French-German border, the new electric model will exclusively be built in Graz, Austria by manufacturing giant Magna Steyr.

The Austrian contract manufacturer already produces Jaguar’s electric I-Pace and the Fisker Ocean on behalf the US car start-up – which is due to go on sale in Britain by the end of the year.

Ineos’ new EV will be the third model in its line-up alongside the Grenadier and a pick-up version due shortly.

It confirmed today that it has entered a contract with Magma, which includes an agreement to commence production at its facility in 2026. 

This puts the new Ineos on a launch collision course with the electric Land Rover Defender, which is expected to arrive the same year.

This could fuel another battle with the British marque following a prolonged legal case between Jaguar Land Rover and Ineos that concluded in 2020.

Land Rover lost its case in court to secure trademark rights for the shape of its old Defender 4×4 in a bid to block Ratcliffe’s plans for the Grenadier 4×4, which shares a similar construction and look.

While the Grenadier is produced at the company’s recently-acquired Hambach plant on the French-German border, the new electric model will exclusively be built in Graz, Austria by manufacturing giant Magna Steyr. The contractor already produces Jaguar’s electric I-Pace

Ineos bosses said today that the new electric 4×4 will ‘represent a unique proposition for customers’. 

This includes smaller dimensions than the Grenadier and power from an all-new battery drivetrain.

Despite being laden with heavy batteries, Ratcliffe’s car company promises it will ‘deliver world-class off-road capability, without compromising on-road comfort or performance’.

Development of the vehicle is already underway and a rigorous testing programme in the Schöckl Mountain close to Magma’s assembly facility will take place in the coming months.

Commenting on the news today, Lynn Calder, CEO of Ineos Automotive, said: ‘Having worked together on the engineering of the Grenadier, we’ve seen first-hand the value of applying Magna’s agility, knowledge, and experience to a complete vehicle development programme. 

‘Deepening our collaboration is a natural next step as we use the Grenadier as a springboard for our continued growth as a global automotive brand with this third model line.’

Ineos Automotive has previously committed to partnerships to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology as an alternative to batteries for future electric vehicles

Is this the end of the line for Ineos’s hydrogen vehicle plans?

Confirming today that the new Ineos will use a battery powertrain, it looks likely that Ineos is scaling back its intentions to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology for passenger vehicles. 

In an interview with This is Money in 2019, Ineos bosses said it was hoping to establish long-term plans for hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries to power its vehicles of the future.

Shortly after, the automotive newcomer announced a partnership with Korean car manufacturer Hyundai to work together on accelerating the tech. 

Mark Tennant, commercial director, told us in 2019: ‘We’re in quite early stages but we’re working on a feasibility study for off-road and heavy-duty vehicles, which UK government has been supportive [and helped to fund].’

He added: ‘We do think that, longer term, the automotive business will simply be battery-electric vehicles. That might be right for smaller, lighter, cars but won’t be suitable for this class of vehicle.’

Ineos is the UK’s – and Europe’s – biggest producer of hydrogen, so it come as little surprise that it has been keen to see fuel cells in the automotive sphere develop.

However, Ratcliffe is reportedly becoming increasingly conceded that the short-term adoption of hydrogen for passenger vehicles is unlikely beyond large commercial vehicle use, such as HGV.

This comes after Shell recently confirmed it had closed all of its UK hydrogen filling stations for passenger cars due to a lack of demand and there being fewer than 500 fuel cell models sold in Britain.