In a setback for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s automotive venture, Ineos Automotive has issued a recall for 7,000 Grenadier SUVs in the United States after reports that doors opened unexpectedly while driving.
According to filings with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the affected vehicles were assembled with insufficient grease on door-lock components, leading to sticking parts and mid-journey openings. Ineos confirmed that it will bear the cost of repairs.
This recall follows other production challenges for the Grenadier. Last year, the company halted manufacturing after a key supplier collapsed, forcing it to pause operations until the supplier issue was resolved. The SUV is produced at Ineos’ Hamback factory in France, where chief executive Lynn Calder is pursuing an ambitious strategy to expand output by over 40 per cent in 2025.
Despite these obstacles, Ineos Automotive has managed to distribute more than 20,000 vehicles globally, recently entering markets in Mexico and China. The Grenadier is now available in 50 countries. The firm itself sits within Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s wider business empire, which includes interests in chemicals and energy, among other sectors.
Separately, Ratcliffe has drawn headlines for his minority stake in Manchester United, acquired last year. He has since launched a cost-saving programme at the football club, warning that without his intervention, United risked running out of cash “by Christmas”. Nonetheless, the billionaire recently announced plans for a new £2bn stadium, a move he believes will secure the club’s long-term success despite its financial hurdles.
