Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled the Range Rover Electric, its first fully battery-powered vehicle, marking a significant milestone in the company's electrification strategy following a year of postponements. The model will be manufactured at the Solihull facility in the West Midlands, supported by substantial infrastructure investments and workforce development across the region.
The launch arrives amid considerable operational and financial headwinds. The parent company has reported declining profitability, with first-quarter 2026 earnings dropping to £66m following a fire at a critical Norwegian supplier. This challenge compounds the impact of a cyber attack approximately one year prior, which cost an estimated £1.9bn and ranks as the most economically damaging cyber incident in UK history according to researchers.
JLR has invested heavily in preparing for this transition. The company has upskilled 10,500 workers across its operations, with approximately 9,000 employees in Solihull receiving training in electrification technologies and a further 1,500 across the broader West Midlands region. A new electric propulsion manufacturing centre in Wolverhampton now produces battery packs and electric drive units alongside conventional engines, enabling flexible production across multiple powertrains.
According to JLR's official launch materials, order books are now open with UK pricing starting from £154,070 on-the-road. The vehicle is offered in short- and long-wheelbase configurations across six trim levels: SE, HSE, Autobiography, SV, SV Ultra and SV Black. The model features a 118.5kWh battery pack and delivers up to 372 miles of WLTP-rated range, with 10-80% charging achievable in approximately 22 minutes on a 350kW rapid charger.
The Range Rover Electric shares its manufacturing line with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and petrol variants, all built on the same flexible architecture. This approach allows JLR to manage the transition to electrification while maintaining production of conventional models during the shift in consumer demand.
Martin Limpert, managing director of Range Rover, described the launch as transformative.
This is a pivotal moment for us at Range Rover, for JLR, and I really believe that for us it's also for our partners, our retailers and our communities. This secures jobs, provides for the economy and we are really excited.
The announcement follows JLR's July declaration that fewer than 300 roles would be eliminated through a redeployment and displacement programme, less than a year after production halted for more than a month due to the cyber attack.
What does the Range Rover Electric offer?
The new model delivers real-world range of up to 333 miles and can add 220 kilometres in 10 minutes on suitable public rapid chargers, according to the company's specifications. In the United States, the model starts at $138,000 and will be available in both wheelbase options.
Demand for the vehicle has been substantial even before its official launch. Earlier reporting indicated that more than 62,000 customers had already joined a reservation waiting list, demonstrating strong market interest built up during the extended development period.
Why is this significant for the West Midlands?
David Bailey, professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham, characterised the launch as the beginning of a transformative period.
It's hugely important, as it's the start of their proper shift into electrification and it's going to mean a profound change for the company but also the supply chain in the West Midlands.
The electrification programme represents a critical juncture for the region's automotive sector. JLR's investment in battery and electric drive unit production lines, combined with workforce training initiatives, signals a long-term commitment to manufacturing in the West Midlands despite recent financial pressures and restructuring.
The government has supported this transition through targeted investment. In April 2026, the UK granted £380m to Tata-owned Agratas' Somerset battery factory, which will supply battery cells for JLR's electric vehicles, strengthening the domestic supply chain and supporting manufacturing jobs across the country.
What challenges does JLR face?
The company continues to navigate significant operational difficulties. Beyond the immediate impact of the cyber attack and subsequent production disruption, JLR faces ongoing geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures and evolving regulatory requirements affecting the automotive industry globally. The fire at a Norwegian supplier in early 2026 further strained operations and contributed to the sharp decline in first-quarter profitability.
Despite these headwinds, JLR has stated that new product launches, including the Range Rover Electric, will position the company favourably while acknowledging the challenging external environment.
What happens next?
Following the September 2026 opening of UK order books, the company has scheduled a domestic launch in South Korea for mid-2027, indicating a phased global rollout strategy. The Range Rover Electric will continue to share Solihull production facilities with other powertrain variants, allowing JLR to manage manufacturing flexibility as the market transitions toward electrification.
Key Facts:
- The Range Rover Electric is priced from £154,070 in the UK and $138,000 in the US, with up to 372 miles WLTP range and 10-80% charging in around 22 minutes on 350kW chargers
- JLR has upskilled 10,500 workers and invested in new battery and electric drive unit production lines across West Midlands sites
- The launch follows a year-long delay and comes amid a £1.9bn cyber attack impact, a Norwegian supplier fire and first-quarter 2026 profits of £66m
- More than 62,000 customers were on a pre-launch reservation waiting list, demonstrating substantial demand
- The model shares flexible architecture with petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid Range Rovers on the same Solihull production line
