INEOS Automotive Forms Five-Year Partnership with RNLI to Support Lifesaving Missions
INEOS Automotive has entered into a five-year partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), providing Grenadier 4x4s to aid in the charity’s lifesaving operations throughout the UK and Ireland. This collaboration marks a significant endorsement of the Grenadier’s capabilities, as it is entrusted with meeting the demanding needs of RNLI’s search and rescue missions.
Lynn Calder, CEO of INEOS Automotive, expressed pride in supporting the RNLI, a charity renowned for its relentless lifesaving work under challenging conditions. “We’re very proud to support the RNLI, an incredible charity that performs round-the-clock life-saving work in often very difficult conditions. Its volunteers rely on vehicles every day, both boats and cars, so this is a powerful endorsement of the Grenadier that it’s able to meet the rigorous standards required for such vital frontline work,” said Calder.
Starting from July 11, 2024, the INEOS Grenadier will be officially integrated into the RNLI’s operations, becoming the primary vehicle for RNLI lifeboats. This partnership ensures that Grenadier Station Wagons are strategically deployed at various locations to support the charity’s heroic volunteers in their vital roles.
The Grenadier’s primary function will be to position, launch, and recover the RNLI’s D-class lifeboats at selected stations. These inflatable lifeboats, highly manoeuvrable and essential for near-shore operations, have saved over 30,000 lives and assisted more than 160,000 people over the past 60 years. The D-class lifeboats excel in surf, shallow waters, and confined locations, often conducting rescues near cliffs, among rocks, and even within caves.
After rigorous assessments, the Grenadier was chosen for its unparalleled off-road and on-road performance, as well as its robustness and durability. This decision underscores the Grenadier’s ability to withstand the harsh demands of RNLI activities, much like the lifeboats it supports. The Grenadier’s resilience makes it a vital addition to the charity’s launch and recovery equipment.
Jamie Chestnutt, RNLI Director for Engineering and Supply, highlighted the alignment of INEOS’s ‘Built for More’ ethos with the RNLI’s lifesaving mission. “The partnership between the RNLI and INEOS Automotive aligns perfectly with INEOS’s ‘Built for More’ ethos given the lifesaving work conducted by the RNLI and our volunteers. As a charity which relies solely on donations, support such as this from INEOS Automotive enables the RNLI to continue to save lives at sea, while also providing our operational volunteers with the best equipment available. Only by working in true partnership with industry can we sustain our lifesaving service in our 200th year and beyond.”
Beyond vehicle provision, INEOS Automotive will also collaborate with the RNLI to disseminate crucial water safety messages to broader audiences. This partnership opens avenues for future technological innovations, ensuring the RNLI’s lifesaving efforts remain sustainable and effective.
Lynn Calder reiterated the significance of this collaboration, emphasizing the Grenadier’s role in supporting the RNLI’s critical work. “We’re very proud to support the RNLI, an incredible charity that performs round-the-clock life-saving work in very difficult conditions. Its volunteers rely on vehicles every day, both boats and cars, so this is a powerful endorsement of the Grenadier that it’s able to meet the rigorous standards required for such vital frontline work.”
Through this partnership, INEOS Automotive and the RNLI are set to enhance their operational efficiency, ensuring that the charity’s courageous volunteers continue to save lives at sea, now and into the future.
