Report: Land Rover Defender Pickup Is Gaining Momentum

JLR and Stellantis have signed an MOU to explore building a Defender-branded pickup in the U.S. to bypass import tariffs.

The arrangement is grounded in a non-binding memorandum of understanding signed in May 2026. JLR CFO Richard Molyneux has stated that the agreement is expected to be finalized by the end of the current year, establishing a definitive timeline for what was previously speculative discussion regarding shared factory capacity.

JLR and Stellantis are exploring a U.S.-built Defender pickup to avoid the 25% “Chicken Tax” on imported trucks. By manufacturing locally, JLR aims to support long-term U.S. growth and overcome the price challenges that make importing European-built models economically unviable.

Manufacturing these vehicles domestically provides an immediate economic solution and marks a return to a practice JLR has not engaged in for five decades. While Land Rover’s ambitions for U.S. production are long-standing, the introduction of a truck variant revives a legacy reminiscent of the Series pickups sold by the brand in the American market until the early 1970s.

Automotive News reports that Belvidere, Illinois, is a potential site for the JLR-Stellantis project, though Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has not confirmed the location or vehicle specifics. Speculation suggests the partnership may use existing Ram or Jeep architectures, but neither company has verified the platform, engines, or powertrains. Whether the truck will feature a body-on-frame structure or maintain the Defender’s unibody remains the project’s biggest uncertainty.

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