Jaguar Land Rover delays electric Defender redesign

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has implemented a two-year pause on the planned full redesign of the Defender, which will delay the introduction of a battery-electric version of the model until the 2030s.

While the generational redesign was previously expected around 2028-29, the delay stems from difficulties in packaging an electric vehicle battery within the current architecture. Despite this setback, JLR plans to proceed with the development of a smaller “baby Defender” electric model, which is expected to have a starting price of approximately £40,000.

The decision comes as JLR CEO PB Balaji faces pressure to reduce costs at the Tata Motors-owned company. The Defender remains a critical asset for the manufacturer, accounting for nearly one-third of the 350,000 vehicles JLR sold during its financial year ending March 2026.