Sir James Ratcliffe is one of the globe’s richest people, with an estimated net worth of $17 billion from his London-based INEOS petrochemical empire.

He’s also an automotive enthusiast with a vision that the world needs a stripped-back, utilitarian 4X4 vehicle to compete with the likes of Land Rover’s Defender and Mercedes-Benz’s G-Class.

Enter the INEOS Grenadier, which began rolling off a production line in France last week with the North American market as its destination.

On Oct. 9, a North Texas auto dealer will begin taking sales orders as one of the vehicle’s 19 initial launch partners in the U.S.

Sewell INEOS Grenadier will open just off the Dallas North Tollway at 5709 Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. It’ll neighbor Sewell’s BMW Mini dealership, one of 12 the family-owned company operates in Texas.

“We are proud to represent the new INEOS Grenadier brand as a charter dealer,” said chairman and CEO Carl Sewell in a statement. “INEOS Grenadier is an exciting new brand, and they have built an incredible vehicle that, like Sewell, will create a following of customers who appreciate quality, performance and great service.”

According to INEOS Grenadier, Ratcliffe dreamed up the vehicle over a pint at the Grenadier pub in London. The 70-year-old tycoon, who was knighted in his home country, has expanded his business interests beyond chemicals by launching a British fashion brand, buying the centuries-old London pub that became the name of his new automotive company and making a play for storied English Premier League soccer club Manchester United.

Earlier this year, Ratcliffe’s chemicals company bought Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s oil assets in the Eagle Ford shale basin in South Texas for $1.4 billion. It was the company’s entry into U.S. oil and gas production. His firm also has bought a cumene plant in Port Arthur.

His automotive company delivered its first off-road vehicles this spring in Europe, with plans to launch a 4-door Quartermaster pickup truck in future years.

The rugged, all-terrain Grenadier will start at $73,100 in the U.S. INEOS Grenadier said more than 7,000 orders have already been placed in the U.S.

“Customers who test drive the Grenadier will experience its impressive capability,” said Carl Sewell III, president of Sewell. “Prior to launch, the vehicle was tested for over one million miles across the most challenging terrain around the world. It is truly one of a kind.”

Sewell said it expects to offer vehicle test drives in the coming weeks.

Founded in 1911, Sewell’s dealerships in Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, McKinney, Plano, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Sugar Land employ more than 3,800 workers. Its brands include Audi, BMWi, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Infiniti, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mini and Subaru.