Given the popularity of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, JLR began locally producing the two SUVs in India. The duo are the brand’s second- and third-best sellers, and, in fact, over 80 per cent of the manufacturer’s sales in the 2026 financial year came 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 initially. 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 offer any concessions for EVs for the first five years. It would therefore seem logical to also assemble the electric versions here.
However, JLR seems 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 in India towards the second half of 2027”.