Given the popularity of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, JLR began to locally produce the two SUVs in India. The duo are the brand's second and third best sellers and, in fact, over 80 percent of the manufacturer's sales in the financial year 2026 were from the Defender – which is imported – and the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models.
However, with the upcoming electric versions, the company will stick with a CBU setup, at least at the start. Speaking to Autocar India at the global media drive, Martin Limpert, Range Rover global managing director, said, “We’ll test the market first, see how it responds and then we will decide” (on the possibility of locally assembling the electric SUVs).
On the surface, the decision seems odd; assembling the electric versions in India wouldn’t be a challenge given that they share the same platform – the MLA-Flex (Modular Longitudinal Architecture) and are built on the same manufacturing line. Additionally, the India – UK FTA does not give EVs any concessions for the first 5 years. It would therefore seem logical to also assemble the electric versions here.
However, JLR seem to be in no hurry to do so, “we have protected our flexible powertrain strategy and are in the beneficial situation where we do not need to push any particular powertrain”, said Limpert. It would appear then that the company wants to gauge the response to the electrified versions of the two SUVs before committing to local production, or is keeping its cards close to its chest.
In any case, more will be known at the launch, which Martin says we will “definitely see them in India towards the second half of 2027”.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
