Defender prices slashed by up to ₹34 lakh as JLR shifts production to India

The Land Rover Defender 110 has become up to ₹34 lakh cheaper in India after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) started local production of the SUV at its Pune facility. The locally manufactured Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE is now priced from ₹99 lakh, down from ₹1.13 crore earlier for the 2.0-litre petrol version. The 3.0-litre petrol and diesel variants, which were earlier priced at ₹1.52 crore, now cost ₹1.18 crore, marking a ₹34 lakh reduction. All prices are ex-showroom, New Delhi.

The price cut comes as JLR shifts the Defender 110 from completely built-up (CBU) imports to local production in India. The Pune facility will manufacture the Defender 110 exclusively for Indian customers, making India the first market outside Europe to locally produce the SUV.

The move also brings considerably more equipment to the Defender’s standard specification. On the 2.0-litre petrol X-Dynamic HSE, features worth up to ₹6.5 lakh that were previously optional on the CBU model are now offered as standard. The 3.0-litre petrol and diesel versions get features worth up to ₹17 lakh as standard.

What the locally made Defender gets

The 2.0-litre petrol Defender gets Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, Terrain Response 2, electronic air suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, Wade Sensing, three-zone climate control with rear cooling assist, cabin air purification, a ClearSight interior rear-view mirror and 14-way heated and cooled electric memory front seats, among other features.

The 3.0-litre petrol and diesel versions get a longer list of standard equipment, including an electronic active differential with torque vectoring by braking, configurable Terrain Response, electronic air suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, Wade Sensing, a Meridian surround sound system, head-up display, cabin air purification, three-zone climate control and a front-centre-console refrigerator compartment.

The locally manufactured Defender 110 will be available with three engine options—a 2.0-litre petrol, 3.0-litre petrol and 3.0-litre diesel—all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SUV continues to use JLR’s D7x architecture and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.

“India’s appetite for adventure and modern luxury has never been stronger. Localising the Defender is a pivotal step in our ‘Reimagine’ strategy and reinforces our commitment to delivering the unrivalled breadth of capability to Indian clients. Manufacturing the Defender in Pune enables us to respond faster to demand while maintaining the tough, rugged engineering and reductive design that makes Defender an icon across the globe,” Lennard Hoornik, Chief Commercial Officer, JLR, said.

For JLR India, the Defender has become a key model. The company says more than 9,000 Defenders are already on Indian roads and that the SUV is its highest-selling model in the country.

“This is a proud milestone for JLR India. The country has embraced Defender for its capability, versatility and unmistakable character. With more than 9,000 Defenders on Indian roads already, and as our highest-selling model, it has moved beyond an SUV to become a cultural icon. This decision to now manufacture in Pune reflects the scale of our ambition for India and our confidence in the quality and passion of our team and partners here,” Rajan Amba, Managing Director, JLR India, said.

JLR said local manufacturing will also enable shorter waiting periods and make ownership easier while retaining the engineering and durability standards of the global Defender. Bookings are now open across 32 authorised Defender dealerships in India, with deliveries set to begin from November 15.

The Pune plant has been manufacturing JLR vehicles since 2011 under a contract manufacturing agreement with Tata Motors. It was JLR’s first manufacturing facility outside the UK and has produced 10 JLR models for the Indian market.

Production of other Defender variants, including the Defender OCTA, Defender 90 and Defender 130, will continue at JLR’s facility in Nitra, Slovakia.