Talks to build Ineos’s ‘New Land Rover Defender’ in Wales are “very advanced”

Talks to build Ineos’s ‘New Land Rover Defender’ in Wales

Talks to build Ineos’s Projekt Grenadier at a new Plant in Wales are “very advanced” according to Welsh Government Minister Ken Skates.

Last year rumours were rife that Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos were planning to build their Projekt Grenadier – a ‘Land Rover Defender’ for the 21st century – at Ford’s doomed Bridgend Plant. But that was ultimately quashed by Ineos.

But now it’s starting to look like Projekt Grenadier could be heading for Wales after all, with talks to build a new factory to deliver the new ‘Defender’ close to Ford’s Bridgend Plant “very advanced”, according to the Welsh Government’s Minister for Economy and Transport Ken Skates, speaking to BBC Radio Wales.

The ‘New Land Rover Defender’ from Ineos – which Ineos say isn’t a new Land Rover Defender – is an ambitious plan by Jim Radcliffe to deliver a 4×4 with the ethos and workhorse abilities of the now defunct Land Rover Defender.

The plan is for a spiritual successor to the Defender with a variety of body styles, go anywhere ability and BMW engines under the bonnet to deliver power, torque and reliability.

The new factory in Wales – if it happens – will need to be big enough to deliver and annual production of 25,000 cars, and could be a proper shot in the arm for an area which is under a cloud as Ford close their Bridgend Plant.