The Ineos Fusilier may actually come to life after all, but with a little help from Chinese automaker Chery.
According to Autocar, Ineos has opened discussions with Chery about using the Chery’s iCar battery-electric (EV) and range-extender electric vehicle (EREV) platform architecture for the stalled Fusilier project.
Ineos unveiled the Fusilier concept in February 2024 with a view to putting it into production by 2027 as smaller companion to the Grenadier SUV and Quartermaster ute. The Fusilier concept had a skateboard platform designed for pure electric and EREV drivetrains.
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By July that year, though, the company beat a strategic retreat, delaying the car’s launch indefinitely due to “reluctant consumer uptake of EVs, and industry uncertainty around tariffs, timings and taxation”.
Using an existing platform from another automaker will save Ineos both time and money. Once the Fusilier is on the market, it will help Ineos meet its CO2 emissions targets in the UK and Europe.
At present Ineos sells some of its cars as commercial vehicles, as they have less stringent targets.
Currently the iCar brand is only available in China, although the brand’s first model, the 03, is available in some export markets under the Chery or Jaecoo marques.
The iCar V23 (above), which was unveiled at the end of 2024 and measures just 4.2m long, is available with a 100kW/180Nm single-motor drivetrain with either a 47.3kWh or 59.9kWh battery, or a 155kW/292Nm dual-motor system with an 81.8kWh battery.
Chery has confirmed it will launch the iCar brand in Europe and Australia, although in these markets the name is being tweaked to iCaur in order to avoid a trademark conflict with Apple.
Should this collaboration with Ineos come about, it will be Chery’s second SUV partnership with a foreign brand.
Through its relationship with JLR (Jaguar Land Rover), it will build and launch the Freelander brand in China before taking it across the world.
The new Freelander models will replace local production of Jaguar and Land Rover models at the company’s joint venture factory in Changshu.
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