Ineos is to build a battery-electric alternative to its Grenadier 4×4, with production slated to commence in 2026.

The zero-emissions platform is being developed in conjunction with Austrian manufacturer Magna, which already builds the likes of Jaguar’s i-Pace and the Mercedes-Benz G-Claas at its facility in Graz, Austria.

It will be smaller than the original Grenadier, the first models of which are now in the hands of UK customers.

See also: First impressions: Ineos completes Grenadier 4×4 development

However, it still promises “world-class off-road capability, without compromising on-road comfort or performance”.

Ineos had previously been peddling hydrogen as a future means of Grenadier power.

The chemicals behemoth – owned by billionaire tycoon Sir Jim Ratcliffe – produces 300,000t of hydrogen annually.

As such, the company had already penned a deal with Hyundai to develop hydrogen powertrains.

However, adding an electric alternative appears a hedge on that particular bet.

In the short term, at least, it offers a quicker route to market using well-established fuelling infrastructure.

How that plays out for a vehicle designed to travel emptier corners of the globe remains to be seen.

The current Ineos Granadier station wagon – powered by a 3-litre BMW engine and built in the ex-Mercedes-Benz plant in Hambach, France – is set to be joined by a yet-to-be-seen pickup platform. 

The EV launch will see the Ineos range swell to three models, taking the firm from automotive outlier to mainstream manufacturer.