INEOS Kavango will begin production of the Grenadier Game Viewer—a bespoke in-house conversion of the Grenadier 4X4—in early 2026.
The company unveiled the Grenadier Game Viewer prototype concept at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Travel Indaba, and We Are Africa throughout 2024, and, as a result, the vehicle has generated enormous interest.
Since those showings, game reserves and luxury safari lodges across Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as estates in the US, Middle East, and South East Asia, have all driven a surge in demand for the Grenadier Game Viewer.
The INEOS Hambach assembly plant in France will supply long- and extra-long wheelbase Grenadiers to INEOS Kavango in Botswana.
Importantly, the plant will send these units in a partial-build state—omitting paint, tailgates, and unnecessary electrical features—so that they arrive ready for specialised conversion.
Depending on the wheelbase, the team will configure the 4X4 with four to nine rear passenger seats. Crucially, the team does not alter the chassis, which ensures that the original ladder-frame retains its full strength and durability.
Customisation and Factory Support
From there, buyers will be able to extensively customise the vehicle to their individual needs, including seating, storage layout, and roof design.
In an industry first, INEOS Kavango and INEOS Automotive will support the build under a manufacturer’s warranty, giving operators the freedom to work directly with the local team to design a vehicle that truly works for them.
This arrangement gives operators total peace of mind through full factory-backed after-sales support. In addition, component traceability ensures that every part meets the brand’s quality standards, while INEOS Kavango provides ongoing servicing, maintenance, and repair.
Maintenance and CEO Vision for the Grenadier Game Viewer
Operators can also choose to maintain the vehicle themselves without voiding the warranty, provided they follow approved procedures and use genuine parts. To support this, INEOS Kavango, in collaboration with the closest workshops, will offer training, spares, and preferential pricing on parts.
“This is the Grenadier coming full circle. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s original inspiration for a modern, robust 4X4 came while on safari in Botswana almost ten years ago. This deep connection with Africa was borne out in the Goodwood concept and in the final production design.”
~ Lynn Calder, CEO of INEOS Automotive
Born in Botswana
In 2022, Kavango Engineering created a safari-ready vehicle from a donor production prototype Grenadier. The team kept modifications minimal, focusing on a slightly raised ride height and relocating roof-mounted switchgear to the centre console.
They then replaced the original roof with a lightweight roll-back canvas top, adding a foldable windscreen and tiered seating. Following a robust analysis of the opportunity, INEOS Automotive acquired the business in August 2023 and renamed it INEOS Kavango.
Based in Maun at the gateway to the Okavango Delta, the premises now include extensive fabrication and assembly facilities.
As a result, the highly skilled 70-strong workforce today completes around 200 ground-up conversions a year for safari, anti-poaching, and primary healthcare use cases.
Proof-of-Concept for the Grenadier Game Viewer
Next month, four units that INEOS Kavango converted to serve as the Grenadier Game Viewer proof-of-concept fleet will enter service.
Hiddn Lodge, a new ultra-luxury retreat near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, commissioned these full production Grenadiers as dedicated Grenadier Game Viewer units for its guests.
Although these vehicles technically predate the start of series production, they serve as a vital test bed for the Grenadier Game Viewer.
This project has also allowed the team to finalise its operational processes ahead of the 2026 launch of the Grenadier Game Viewer.
To find out more about the Grenadier Game Viewer, please visit: www.ineosgrenadier.com or contact: info@ineoskavango.com
For more articles, go here.
