Ineos Automotive is expanding into the defence sector after securing its first orders from sovereign military forces in Europe.
The Italian Army has placed what the company describes as a substantial order for Grenadier vehicles, with deliveries through regional distributor ATflow due to begin in early 2027.
The agreement makes Italy the first NATO member to place a sizeable military order for the Grenadier, according to Ineos.
Meanwhile, vehicle armouring and conversion specialist Valentin Tusch has won an Austrian Government tender to supply enhanced-protection Grenadiers to the country’s defence and interior security forces.
The first Austrian deliveries and trials are expected to begin by the end of 2026.
Ineos says the Grenadier was selected for its different body configurations, multiple wheelbases, straightforward maintenance and solid axles designed to carry heavy loads across difficult terrain.
The company is also pursuing further defence contracts across Europe and other NATO markets.
Its Team Grenadier consortium has progressed to the trials stage of the British Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle programme.
Ineos Automotive chief commercial officer Mike Whittington says rising geopolitical tensions are prompting military forces to strengthen their capabilities.
“In a world where geopolitical tensions are rising, military forces are bolstering their capabilities and resilience, they need the best, modern equipment available,” Whittington says.
“As a robust and highly capable vehicle, this is what the Grenadier was built for – to unremittingly serve armed forces in mission-critical roles.
“Our most recent military agreements signal a huge vote of confidence in Grenadier as a benchmark already, as talks with other nations’ defence procurement teams continue.”
The Grenadier is already used by police, border patrol, special forces and emergency rescue organisations in several countries.
Ineos says users include counterterrorism and tactical intervention units in Germany, France and Spain, along with security and border forces in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Serbia and Slovakia.
