Big explosion in Styria: the Ineos Fusilier project is terminated for the time being. The electric off-road vehicle will not be introduced in 2026 as planned and will be produced in series at Magna in Graz from 2027. This was first reported by Small newspaper from Austria. In an Ineos announcement motor car and sports This step is now confirmed.
The electric car is not economical
That means Magna loses after Fisker’s bankruptcy Within a short period of time we received another large order for the production of an electric car. As with the Ineos Grenadier, the Graz company had undertaken development of the Fusilier and is said to have proceeded accordingly.
Ineos justifies the major step on the one hand with generally difficult sales forecasts for electric cars. The BEV market is currently growing slowly in Europe. In addition, the planned range extension to the Fusilier is due to be completed in 2035 according to current EU planning.
Political reasons were given
Ineos literally too motor car and sports: “We are delaying the launch of the INEOS Fusilier for two reasons: slow consumer adoption of electric vehicles and industry uncertainty around customs duties, timing and taxation.”
And: “We are determined to bring an electric vehicle to market, not just because of the legislation, but because we want to. It’s the right thing to do – but as a new low-volume manufacturer, we can only produce vehicles that sell. The Fusilier is an electric vehicle, but also offers the possibility of extending range This low-emission solution for longer journeys or when charging is not possible will still be banned in both Europe and the UK in 2035, if not earlier in the UK., the Labor if party is currently elected to the government.”
Whether and when the Fusilier off-road electric vehicle project will continue is currently unclear. According to the original plans, Magna would have produced up to 30,000 Fusiliers per year from 2027.
That was the plan
Flashback: Ineos boss Sir James Ratcliffe announced early on that the Grenadier off-road vehicle would not remain the brand’s only model. “Yes,” he confirmed in a video interview published by Ineos in 2022, there will be “a smaller version with an electric drive.” In February 2024, Ratcliffe delivered and presented the new Ineos Fusilier at London’s Grenadier Pub.
Ineos
Ineos boss Sir James Ratcliffe unveiled the Ineos Fusilier at London’s ‘The Grenadier’ pub in February 2024.
Like the Grenadier, the Fusilier is also named after an infantry designation (Füsiliers). The off-road vehicle, which was initially only officially shown as a computer rendering, bears strong similarities to the Grenadier, but should be more compact than the Grenadier and have slight SUV features on its exterior. In the images presented, the Fusilier also appears visibly narrower than the Grenadier.
Narrower than the Grenadier
Despite the early announcement of the new model, Ratcliffe reserved a surprise at the new model’s press launch in February 2024. Accordingly, the Fusilier will not be available only as an all-electric car, as originally planned. Rather, two powertrain versions are planned: a pure BEV and also a series hybrid, in which a range extender serves as a power supply when the engine’s battery is discharged.
Ineos
Looks narrower than the Grenadier: The new Ineos Fusilier
Extending the range will be a small petrol engine, according to Ratcliffe, an engine from a well-known manufacturer already on the market. Since Ineos already uses BMW engine technology in the Grenadier, one can assume that it can already navigate the Munich-based company’s smaller gasoline engines.
Variant with range extension
The gasoline engine should serve solely as a generator and, if necessary, operate in an optimum efficiency window. The Fusilier is always electrically powered. The range-extended model should have a battery with about 70 percent capacity of the pure BEV. Ratcliffe also talked about a range of around 400km for the BEV.
Also new was the announcement that the Fusilier would be built at Magna in Graz, where the model is also being developed. Although Magna was also a development partner in Grenadier and built the first pre-series models on site, series production began in Hambach at the new Ineos plant. It was initially speculated that the new electric off-road vehicle would also be built in Hambach.
Initially there was no information on technical data, from dimensions to battery and engine power. Ineos wanted to announce more details and the timetable for a market launch in autumn 2024. But the early termination of the project in July 2024 prevented this.
It has been known for some time that a model below the new Grenadier is in design and development. Also that this will be an off road vehicle with electric drive. Ineos surprised everyone with the first presentation of the new Fusilier. Because obviously the new electric Fusilier shouldn’t be much smaller than the Grenadier. The announcement of a range-extending petrol variant was also unusual.
But the project has now been shelved indefinitely and Ineos doubts its financial viability given the current state of the market. It is surprising that Ineos refers to the well-known ban on internal combustion engines in the EU. The main reason is probably market forecasts. Because high-priced electric cars like the Fusilier undoubtedly would have been, they currently suffer from a lack of interest from buyers.
(tagsTo Translation)electric drive