The Italian Army has placed a substantial order for Ineos Grenadiers. Austria ordered specially converted versions with enhanced protection. Ineos is also competing for a major British military contract. The Ineos Grenadier was conceived as an old-school, no-nonsense off-roader for people who thought modern SUVs had become a little too soft. Now, it appears that at least a couple of militaries agree. Italy and Austria have placed substantial orders for the Grenadier, marking the model’s first contracts with sovereign defense forces. Ineos has fought hard to make its brand relevant. Now, it’s going to war for real. The biggest deal comes from the Italian Army, which will begin receiving Grenadiers in early 2027. Ineos hasn’t revealed exactly how many are involved or how much the contract is worth, but says Italy is the first NATO country to place a sizable military order for the SUV. Read: Ineos Tries To Civilize The 2026 Grenadier, But It’s Still A Savage The Austria-bound Grenadiers will get some added upfitting from vehicle armoring and conversion specialist Valentin Tusch GmbH, which won a government tender to supply these SUVs to Austrian defense and interior security forces. These vehicles will be modified with enhanced protection, with the first deliveries and trials scheduled to begin before the end of this year. Frankly, given the Grenadier’s build specs, it’s not hard to understand why it could appeal to military forces. Its decidedly traditional recipe includes a ladder-frame chassis, solid axles, permanent four-wheel drive, and relatively straightforward construction. That last bit is key because it could make maintenance and, crucially, repair in the field far simpler. Generally speaking, the entire vehicle is built for long periods of harsh treatment. The brand won’t be stopping with Italy and Austria, either. The company is leading the so-called Team Grenadier consortium bidding for the British Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle program. That bid has now advanced to the trials stage, putting the Grenadier in contention to become a new light military vehicle for Britain’s armed forces. Ineos says it is also in advanced procurement discussions with other European and NATO militaries, although it hasn’t identified them. On top of that, it’s already doing some government work outside of military applications. The automaker says Grenadiers are being used by police, border patrol, emergency rescue, and special forces organizations around the world, including tactical and counterterrorism units in Germany, France, and Spain. Security and border agencies in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Slovakia have also adopted the Grenadier. That’s quite the resume for a vehicle that didn’t even exist just a few years ago. Photos: Ineos
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