Quick Facts:
- Vehicle: A Defender pickup, reported by trade press and not confirmed by Land Rover or Stellantis.
- Reported by: Automotive News and The Times of London, mid-September 2026.
- Framework: A non-binding memorandum of understanding signed in late spring 2026.
- Deal deadline: JLR’s finance chief says the companies will finalize the agreement by the end of 2026.
- Reported plant: Belvidere, Illinois, with no confirmation from either company.
- Why build in the US: A 25% tariff applies to imported light trucks.
- Still unknown: Platform, engines, price, model name and launch date.
5 min read
In This Article
Overview
A Defender pickup is now the reported first product of Jaguar Land Rover’s US partnership with Stellantis. Automotive News says both companies plan to build the truck in the United States, and The Times of London reports the same. However, Land Rover and Stellantis have not confirmed a pickup, and both declined to comment.
JLR chief executive PB Balaji says the collaboration supports the company’s long-term growth in the United States. We covered the first version of this story in July, when the talk was about a US-built SUV. Since then, the story has moved to a truck, so our earlier report on the US-built Defender is now background.
However, details are thin. No platform, engine, price or launch date exists for this Land Rover pickup truck.
Accessories for a pickup nobody has built do not exist yet. Today’s Defender is another matter. If you drive a five-seat Defender 110, or plan to buy one while you wait, these three fit it: LASFIT floor mats, 3W floor mats and a 3D MAXpider cargo liner. Check the model-year range on each listing.
Accessories for today's Defender 110
3W Floor Mats Full Set for Land Rover Defender 110 2020-2026 Only 5…
3D MAXpider Kagu Cargo Liner for Land Rover Defender 110 2020-2025
What JLR and Stellantis Have Confirmed
The memorandum of understanding is the firmest fact. Signed in late spring 2026, it covers product and technology development in the United States. Because it is non-binding, neither company owes the other a vehicle yet.
JLR chief financial officer Richard Molyneux says the companies will finalize the agreement by the end of this year. The date matters, because a signed deal turns talk into a commitment. In addition, on the August 13 call, he said the framework is expected to include Defender-branded models built at Stellantis US plants. Meanwhile, Stellantis chief executive Antonio Filosa has confirmed only one fact: both groups are discussing a specific US plant. He named neither the plant nor the vehicles.
Instead, reporters citing unnamed sources supply the rest. The pickup, the Illinois plant and any shared Ram or Jeep hardware all fall in this group. Read each one as an unconfirmed report.
Why the Defender Pickup Needs a US Factory
The Chicken Tax explains why reporters point to a US plant. Imported light trucks face a 25% tariff in the United States, a rule dating to the 1960s. Every Defender sold here today arrives from Nitra, Slovakia, so a pickup built there would carry the full 25% on top of a premium price.
The Defender SUV pays less. Under the US-EU trade deal, EU-built vehicles face a 15% total tariff. Specifically, this includes the Defender 90, 110 and 130. North America made up about 28% of JLR retail sales in JLR’s fiscal 2025. Tariff costs matter a lot.
Building the truck in a US plant removes the Chicken Tax from the math. The Stellantis partnership would supply the factory space. This is why a Land Rover pickup truck needs a US build. For the wider price picture, read our guide to truck tariffs in 2027.
The Platform Question Behind the Defender Pickup
A US plant solves the cost problem. However, the platform is the bigger open question. Reports say the truck might use existing Ram and Jeep hardware instead of a new structure. Stellantis sells the Jeep Gladiator, the Ram 1500 and heavier Ram trucks in the United States. Still, Land Rover and Stellantis have confirmed no platform, engine or powertrain.
The current Defender uses a unibody structure, while the Gladiator and Ram trucks use body-on-frame construction. A Defender pickup on Stellantis hardware would therefore change how Land Rover builds its truck. For a pickup, a frame is a sensible choice, because a separate bed and towing loads both favor one.
I have owned a Jeep Gladiator and two Grand Cherokee Overlands, so Stellantis vehicles are familiar to me. My test is whether the finished truck still feels like a Defender. A badge alone will not settle it.
The Reported Plant and Land Rover’s US History
Location is the other open question. Trade press reports point to Belvidere, Illinois, as the likely site. Neither company has confirmed it, and Filosa has not named a plant. Also, our July report pointed to Toledo, Ohio, so the two reports disagree, which shows how early this is.
Land Rover sold Series models here into the 1970s. Today its US lineup has no pickup. A Defender truck would fill the gap.
What This Means for You
No sales date exists for the truck. Meanwhile, Land Rover USA lists the Defender 90 from $61,000 and the 110 from $65,000, before destination. Our report on 2027 Defender pricing covers the trims.
If you need a truck now, buy one now. Waiting on an unpriced, undated vehicle is risky. Wait only if a Defender-badged pickup is the only truck you want. I drive a Chevy Colorado ZR2 myself, and plenty of good trucks sit on dealer lots today.
Whatever you drive while you wait, recovery gear earns its space. MAXTRAX boards, an ARB recovery strap and a VIAIR 12V compressor cover getting unstuck and airing tires back up. Our guide to the best traction boards explains how to choose a set.
Recovery gear for any 4x4
MAXTRAX | MKII Titanium Grey Recovery Boards Pair | Heavy Duty Off-…
If you own a current Defender, nothing in these reports changes your Defender’s value or support. For ownership context, see our look at Defender reliability after the JLR job cuts. Then watch three things: the final agreement due by year end, the platform decision and any plant announcement.
Final Thoughts
A Defender pickup makes sense in theory. The tariff math is clear, the Stellantis partnership would supply factories, and the brand sold Series models here before. Therefore, this gives JLR a strong reason to try. A Land Rover pickup on US lots would be a big moment for off-road fans.
Still, I want proof before I get behind it. A pickup with no platform, price or date is a headline, not a product. If Land Rover builds it well, I will be first in line to write about it. Should it prove a rebadge, you will hear it from me too.
My advice is simple. Shop the trucks on sale today, and watch the year-end deal. Also, when Land Rover or Stellantis confirms a plant or a platform, we will update this story.
FAQ
Is the Defender pickup confirmed by Land Rover?
No. Land Rover and Stellantis confirmed a memorandum of understanding, not a pickup. Automotive News and The Times of London report the truck, and both companies declined to comment.
When will the Defender pickup go on sale?
No date exists. JLR says the companies will finalize the agreement by the end of 2026, and a launch would follow later. Treat any timeline as a guess until an official announcement.
Where would a US-built Defender be made?
Trade press reports point to Belvidere, Illinois, as the likely plant. Neither company has confirmed it, and our July report pointed to Toledo, Ohio.
Will the truck use a Ram or Jeep platform?
Reports say it might, because doing so would avoid building a new structure. Neither company has confirmed a platform, engine or powertrain for any Defender truck.