Production schedule and Magna development locked in for all-new INEOS sub-Grenadier EV wagon
INEOS Automotive has announced it will launch its all-new battery-electric compact 4×4 wagon in 2026, positioning the EV below the INEOS Grenadier and promising it will offer “exceptional off-road capability” without compromising on-road comfort or performance.
The British brand is keeping full details of the new off-roader to itself for the time being, but has this week locked in the launch timing and reconfirmed other details previously divulged to carsales including development with Austrian engineering and niche production specialist Magna.
Magna was also involved with the INEOS Grenadier wagon and ute, and will now put the small EV through a similar tortuous engineering development program on the Schöckl mountain, close to the company’s vehicle assembly line in Graz.
This is the same mountain where Magna helped develop the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. It also builds the latest G-Wagen on behalf of the German car-maker.
In announcing the production date, INEOS Automotive chief executive Lynn Calder 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 program.
“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.”
As carsales has reported, the electric wagon will not simply be a ‘Shorty’ version built along similar lines to the Land Rover Defender 90.
It will ditch the ladder-frame platform and mechanicals and instead use dedicated EV skateboard underpinnings, which will nonetheless still ensure strong off-road credentials.
With the confirmation of Magna’s involvement this week, the EV architecture is all but certain to be Magna Steyr’s FM29 platform, which is also planned to underpin the Fisker Ocean EV and at least two Chinese SUVs.
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Keyword: INEOS to launch small 4x4 EV off-roader in 2026