- Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding in May 2026 to develop a US-built Defender pickup
- A US-built Defender pickup would avoid the 25 percent tariff on imported trucks known as the Chicken Tax
- Reports say the partnership could use existing Stellantis Ram and Jeep platforms and powertrains rather than a bespoke chassis
Jaguar Land Rover has moved past the rumor stage. The British automaker has signed a memorandum of understanding with Stellantis to explore a Defender-branded pickup, and both groups are studying building the truck in the United States rather than shipping it from Slovakia.
