- Jaguar Land Rover needs to give attention to the US market.
- It is going to companion with Stellantis to construct the Defender within the US.
- New fashions are coming, together with hybrids and electrical automobiles.
British automaker Land Rover has by no means constructed a car in america. That may quickly change, due to help from American automaker Stellantis. “Our aspiration, within the coming years, is to develop our US enterprise to the dimensions of all the JLR enterprise because it exists at present,” JLR CEO PB Balaji stated in an organization assertion on June 17, 2026.
That is a reasonably tall order, even with the US presently accounting for 30 p.c of Jaguar Land Rover’s present world gross sales. For US operations to develop to satisfy the corporate’s present world gross sales, they would want to extend by over 300 p.c.
“To really manifest the facility of our manufacturers, we are going to enhance our give attention to North America, our greatest market,” Balaji added. “The rising demand for luxurious merchandise, coupled with the robust choice we see for our manufacturers, indicators important progress potential. We’re additionally exploring new high-potential segments for our Defender model, which is able to permit us to supply tailor-made luxurious merchandise and experiences for much more of our US shoppers.”
JLR doesn’t have a manufacturing facility in North America, so that’s the place the partnership with Stellantis will profit the UK automaker. The 2 firms introduced a “non-binding Memorandum of Understanding” final month, and a US-built Defender would be the first product to return from this collaboration.
Picture by: Land Rover
Land Rover presently builds the Defender 90, 110, and 130 at its manufacturing facility in Nitra, Slovakia. A brand new mannequin can be launched on a brand new Electrified Modular Structure (EMA) platform with hybrid and all-electric powertrain choices, each of which is able to probably be offered within the US market now that the Defender can be made in North America.
JLR revealed different portfolio plans, including new Range Rover and Vary Rover Sport fashions, each remaining on the modular longitudinal structure (MLA) platform with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electrical variations. The corporate says its first EV on the EMA platform can be revealed later this yr, probably the “baby Defender” that has been rumored for years.
Land Rover additionally has plans to evolve the Discovery SUV however has it “keep true to its roots,” whereas Jaguar will turn out to be a totally electrical model. The Type 01 will launch later this year as a low-slung four-door GT.
Motor1’s Take: Shifting Defender manufacturing to the US ought to assist Land Rover keep away from the 15.0% tariff that’s presently imposed on Slovakia, up from the earlier 2.5%. We can be to see what advantages Stellantis will get from this deal, as JLR lastly makes a foothold into North America with a US manufacturing companion.
