- The Defender pickup truck is aimed at the US market.
- It is probably located in the United States to avoid import tariffs.
- Be one of several new models that JLR plans for the region.
Land Rover Defender Pickup: What do we know so far?
While the two brands have signed a memorandum of understanding, exact details on the upcoming Land Rover pickup truck are expected to emerge in late 2026. Former JLR executive director of vehicle programs Nick Collins admitted to Autocar UK in 2021 that not only “is there customer demand” for such a pickup truck, but also “one can be made from a monocoque as there are no structural limitations.”
However, it remains to be seen which platform the Defender pickup truck actually uses. For perspective, JLR and Stellantis have at their disposal the Defender’s unibody platform and the body-on-frame designs used by Stellantis-owned brands like Jeep and RAM. Buyers looking for high-end pickup trucks in North America currently have popular options including high-end variants of the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 and RAM 1500, all body-on-frame models.
While the Defender SUV range sold worldwide leaves JLR’s Slovakia facility, the Times report indicated that the Defender pickup truck is likely to be produced locally in the US to avoid import tariffs. The United States is a “priority growth market” and will lead to “exclusive offerings” in due course, said PB Balaji, chief executive of JLR. JLR’s plans for North America go beyond just one model. “Working with Stellantis allows us to explore complementary capabilities in product and technology development that support our long history.–Long-term growth plans for the US market,” Balaji added.
