JLR partnering with Stellantis on new Land Rover Defender models

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced a partnership with Stellantis, which owns more than a dozen automotive brands including Jeep, Ram and Peugeot, to develop new models for its Defender SUV lineup.

During an investor call, JLR confirmed the tie-up with Stellantis will be used to develop US-specific Defender models, having previously said the two companies were discussing potential collaborations.

It didn't share any further details on which Stellantis platform would be used, or which brand it may originate from, though Jeep's architectures appear the most compatible with JLR's models.

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There's no confirmation on whether any of the US-specific models will be sold in Australia.

Defender has been used as a model name since 1990, and is a member of the 'House of Brands' announced in 2023, which also includes Discovery and Range Rover.

JLR said its focus in North America will be on the Defender and Range Rover sub-brands going forward, with an emphasis on hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, which have been gaining market share in the US.

“Apart from accelerating our existing offerings, we are also exploring new high-potential segments for our Defender brand, which will allow us to offer tailored luxury products and experiences for even more of our US clients,” JLR CEO PB Balaji said in a statement.

“Our aspiration, in the coming years, is to grow our US business to the size of the entire JLR business as it exists today.”

The automaker is targeting double-digit sales growth after a difficult 2025, which saw it pause shipments to the US amid uncertainty surrounding import tariffs.

It also had to endure a month-long cyberattack that halted production at multiple factories, which the company said cost it around £196 million ($A371 million).

The Defender sub-brand will also expand to include a new, smaller model, potentially called the Defender Sport, which will use the new EMA platform.

JLR said it will introduce a hybrid powertrain for models based on its EMA platform, which was originally intended to be electric-only, with the first Range Rover to use the underpinnings – an anticipated replacement for the Velar – set to be revealed later this year.

While hybrids accounted for around 13 per cent of all new vehicles sold in the US in 2025, according to Reuters, hybrid sales jumped 37 per cent in April and May 2026 following the outbreak of war between the US and Iran.

That compared with 15 per cent growth for the overall new-vehicle market, despite US fuel prices climbing to a four-year high in April 2026, while Australian motorists experienced record pump prices.

The second model on the EMA platform is expected to be the smaller Defender, with JLR saying it will offer both hybrid and electric versions in the US.

While EVs reached a record 19.9 per cent share of Australian new-vehicle sales last month – a year-on-year increase of 111.6 per cent – US EV sales fell 27 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, according to Kelley Blue Book, accounting for only 5.8 per cent of sales.

EV sales momentum slowed after national buyer incentives were abolished by the US government, ending on September 30, 2025.

Jaguar, meanwhile, ended production of internal-combustion vehicles in December 2025 and has not changed its plans to relaunch as an EV-only brand.

It will use the transition to reposition itself as a more exclusive, lower-volume rival to Porsche and Bentley, with the Jaguar Type 01 – a luxurious four-door GT EV – scheduled to be unveiled later this year.

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