While I agree with the sentiments, I think that we have to take into account multiple factors in having a significantly more expensive vehicle than was probably touted about (by the media I might add - not INEOS). In my time it has always been assumed to be in the £45,000 - to £60,000 area, so allowing for Brexit, rampant inflation, Covid 19 delays, restrictions and so on, such mission creep is understandable. A good quality 1 tonne pickup will retails at over £40,000 + VAT these days. My view is that as a long term investment, its one of the best options on the market, because it really is built to last and therefore a worthy successor to L319 Defender and our own earlier favourites. Were it built in the UK with all the investment that would have required, I dare say it would have been even more expensive. As it is, its built in one of the most modern automotive factories in Europe, by experienced workers who know how to build to the standards laid down by other manufacturers - in this case Mercedes Benz and the Smart cars. I'm sorry, but who in their right might would turn down the opportunity to effectively just take over such an existing operation rather than build from scratch?
A reminder that both the current Defender and the Discovery 5 are both built in Slovakia, not the UK, so made in Britain arguments, while important to a few Brits, is meaningless to the rest of the planet with far bigger priorities than where it is built. Every vehicle these days is not really built any more anyway. They are assembled from a large pile of components coming from different suppliers all over the world. This is simple economics, not sentiment - the best quality at the best possible price. If we as a country cannot meet that requirement, then its our loss, but arguably no fault of any motor manufacturer. A positive, is that apart from having being designed here, a lot of the components that make up the Grenadier are made here. I note that some of the major items supposedly made elsewhere, are made from components from British suppliers. One of the big winners is based in Northern Ireland.
And of course - yes I am biased, but after putting up with 30 + years of quality problems with Land Rovers built in the UK at ludicrously high prices, I can be. I still do a lot of work with INEOS and have a great deal of respect for the company and what they are working to achieve. The amount of interest I'm hearing from global fleet users, tells me that in essence, Sir Jim Ratcliffe had the right idea and its on the right track.
Still love my old Land Rovers though (and so does Sir Jim Ratcliffe!).
