Range Rover Electric launch delayed to 2026 due to extensive testing

JLR reportedly requires more time for testing and validation of the Range Rover Electric, its first fully in-house electric vehicle. Additionally, the global EV demand trend has also played a major role in this decision.

JLR’s long-term EV plans are closely linked to Tata’s upcoming battery cell factory in Somerset, UK, which has been delayed by a year to late 2027. This could be a factor in the overall revised timeline for the Range Rover Electric.

What We Know about the Range Rover

The Range Rover Electric will be the first all-electric Range Rover and the second EV from JLR after the Jaguar I-Pace. Unlike the I-Pace, this one is being designed and built entirely by JLR. Customer interest has been high, with over 62,000 signups, and about 16,000 of them in the first week alone.

The Range Rover Electric is expected to be powered by a 117 kWh battery, offering a range of around 500 km on a single charge. It will also feature a dual-motor setup producing around 550 hp and 851 Nm.

BATTERY	117 kWh
RANGE	Around 500 km (on a single charge)
MOTOR	Dual-motor setup
POWER	550 hp (Approx.)
TORQUE	851 Nm (Approx.)

Effect of delay on other models

Following this delay, other upcoming EVs could also be pushed back. This includes the Range Rover Sport Electric, Velar Electric, and Jaguar’s new EV lineup, starting with the Type 00 GT, followed by an electric sedan and SUV. These were initially expected between 2026–27, but could now arrive later.

Conclusion

JLR is choosing quality, timing, and demand with the delay of the Range Rover Electric. Due to the EV market slowdown, other carmakers such as Ford, Mercedes-Benz have made similar decisions. These companies are showing that they are adjusting to changes in an immensely evolving landscape of electric vehicles, and rightly so.