Ineos Automotive has resumed development of a smaller, electrified SUV, and that its public debut and clarification of launch timing will take place in the ‘not-so-distant future’.
First revealed in February 2024 as an electric concept vehicle and originally slated for introduction in 2027, the Fusilier was set to slot in as the smallest model in the Ineos range, which currently comprises the Grenadier SUV and Grenadier Quartermaster ute.
However, those plans were put on hold less than six months later due to “reluctant consumer uptake of EVs, and industry uncertainty around tariffs, timings and taxation”, according to the company.
Fast-forward to June 2025 and a product expansion was back on the agenda, with Autocar reporting that Ineos had opened discussions with Chery about using the Chinese brand’s iCar battery-electric (EV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) platform architecture for the Fusilier.
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And now, in 2026, it appears the project is progressing.
“The Grenadier and the Quartermaster alone are not going to support our strategy of growth,” Ineos Automotive’s regional director for Australia, New Zealand and APAC, Justin Hocevar, told CarExpert.
“So in terms of that product strategy, we know that we need to do more, and we think that there’s a great opportunity to do more because we’ve now positioned the Grenadier as being the most extreme iteration of our 4×4 capability.
“The concept of the Fuselier – something that’s a bit smaller than the Grenadier – is still a vision that is alive and well in the company, and we’re actively pursuing what that vehicle would look like, or a vehicle like that would look like going forward. That’s what we’ll be talking about in the not-too-distant future.
“In terms of announcing the timeline, I don’t think it’s years away.”
While the Fusilier was originally intended to be all-electric, Ineos has since decided to add the option of a range-extender (EREV) powertrain incorporating a combustion engine to charge its battery.
It’s a choice that’s likely to go down well in Australia, given the vastness of this continent and its limited public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
“The project morphed over time, and part of the pause on that project had a lot to do with our desire to have an alternative new-energy powertrain in that vehicle – hybridisation or a range-extender solution,” explained Mr Hocevar.
“We had to pause that project, we were charging into it too quickly.
“Now that we’ve had a bit of time, we’ve got a better understanding of what we think is happening with a lot of markets around the world and the available technology to us.”
Even in range-extender form, the Fusilier will help Ineos meet its CO2 emissions targets in the UK and Europe.
It will also broaden the automaker’s appeal, which is currently limited by the Grenadier’s narrow off-road and towing focus, as well as its size and price.
“If Australia had access to Grenadier, something medium, and something smaller, then we’d be really happy with the product portfolio. That would probably carry us a long way,” concluded Mr Hocevar.
As with Ineos’ other model names, Fusilier is a military term – specifically, it’s a member of any of several British army regiments formerly armed with fusils, a type of musket.
