The Defender could become the first Land Rover assembled in America, with Stellantis expected to play a key role.
Land Rover is preparing for what could be a historic shift. For the first time, the British automaker is considering manufacturing vehicles in the United States, and the Defender appears to be the leading candidate for local production. To make that happen, the company plans to tap into the manufacturing expertise and facilities of Stellantis.
The strategy was outlined by Jaguar Land Rover CFO P.B. Balaji during a recent presentation on the company's future plans. According to Balaji, North America is becoming the brand's most important market, and JLR ultimately expects U.S. sales to grow to the equivalent of its current worldwide volume. At present, the United States accounts for roughly 30% of Jaguar Land Rover's global sales.
A partnership with Stellantis will be central to that expansion. The two companies have already signed a memorandum of understanding, and one of their first joint projects could involve the next-generation Defender for North America. The SUV is currently built in Nitra, Slovakia, but producing it in the U.S. would help reduce the impact of import tariffs and allow Land Rover to tailor the vehicle more closely to American buyers.
According to preliminary information, the next Defender is expected to ride on JLR's new EMA platform and will be offered with both hybrid and fully electric powertrains. At the same time, the automaker has made it clear that gasoline-powered models aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Land Rover has already stated that the Range Rover and Defender will continue to offer internal combustion engines for as long as customer demand and regulations allow.
No timeline for U.S. production has been announced yet. Still, the fact that Land Rover is willing to build the Defender in America—and partner with Stellantis to do it—underscores just how serious the company is about strengthening its position in its largest and most important market.