JLR launches local CKD assembly of Defender 110 in India

JLR has begun local assembly of the Defender 110 in India using a completely knocked down (CKD) process, making it the third model the British automaker builds domestically after the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. The CKD operation covers the Defender’s base‑spec X‑Dynamic HSE trim, which customers can buy with three power‑train choices: a 3‑litre diesel labelled D350, a 3‑litre petrol called P400 and a 2‑litre petrol known as P300. Until now the Defender was sold in India as a fully imported vehicle. In the fiscal year 2026 the model topped JLR’s Indian sales, becoming the brand’s best‑selling product. Combined with the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, the three models contributed more than 80 percent of JLR’s total Indian sales last year. Local assembly is expected to lower costs, improve delivery times and boost the brand’s presence in the growing premium SUV market. The move also aligns with the government’s push for more domestic manufacturing under its Make in India initiative.

Context

CKD assembly involves importing parts and putting them together in the destination country, a strategy often used to reduce tariffs and meet local content rules while keeping the core design unchanged.