Land Rover and Stellantis Might Build a Defender Truck in America

Wouter Smit · 2026-09-15

### A Surprising Partnership Could Bring a Defender Truck to U.S. Soil Imagine a rugged Defender pickup rolling off a U.S. assembly line. That's the possibility on the table as Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis explore a new partnership. According to recent reports, a Defender truck could be the first U.S.-built vehicle to come out of this collaboration. For truck lovers, this is big news. The Defender has a legendary off-road reputation, but it's never been offered as a factory pickup. If this plan goes through, it would fill a gap in the market and give buyers a new option that blends British heritage with American manufacturing. ### Why This Partnership Makes Sense Jaguar Land Rover has been looking to expand its U.S. presence, and Stellantis has plenty of unused plant capacity. By working together, they could share costs and speed up development. Plus, building in the U.S. would help avoid the 25% tariff on imported light trucks, often called the chicken tax. That alone could save tens of thousands of dollars per vehicle. - **Cost savings:** Local production avoids import duties and reduces shipping expenses. - **Faster delivery:** U.S. buyers wouldn't have to wait for overseas shipments. - **Job creation:** New manufacturing jobs could boost local economies. But it's not a done deal. Both companies need to agree on details like which plant will build the truck and how to split the investment. Talks are reportedly in early stages, so we might not hear anything official for months. ### What a Defender Truck Could Look Like If it happens, expect a truck that's as capable as the Defender SUV. That means serious off-road gear, a payload of around 2,000 pounds, and a towing capacity of up to 8,200 pounds. It would likely come with four-wheel drive and a choice of gasoline or hybrid powertrains. Pricing? A Defender SUV starts around $50,000, so a truck version could sticker for $55,000 to $70,000 depending on trim. That would put it squarely against the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX. ### The Bottom Line A U.S.-built Defender truck would be a win for enthusiasts and a smart move for both automakers. It would combine British off-road DNA with American truck practicality. But until we hear an official announcement, it's just a promising idea. Keep an eye on this space—it could change the pickup landscape.