The Range Rover Electric and Sport EVs will still use the existing MLA platform which underpins the ICE models
The first electric SUV to use Jaguar Land Rover’s new EMA platform will be the Range Rover Velar Electric. Range Rover is one of the few legacy carmakers which has not launched any EVs until now. We have seen that many car companies, new and old, have taken a huge lead in this space. Somehow, the Indian-owned British luxury SUV maker never got around to making an EV. Nevertheless, all that is about to change.
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Range Rover Velar Electric To Use EMA Platform
The electric Velar will launch in less than two years. Prior to that, we will see the Range Rover Electric and Sport EV. These are based on the same MLA platform as their existing ICE avatars. It will even underpin the electric replacements of Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque too. As a matter of fact, the first EV will debut before the end of this year. The sales will commence in 2025.
According to Autocar, JLR CEO Adrian Madell confirmed this by saying, “We’ve been clear that Jaguar will be the third architecture to launch. We’ll first have MLA BEV, with the Range Rover BEV later next year. Then it’s the first vehicle off EMA, which will probably be springtime in 2026. Jaguar will be after that.” In fact, the Jaguar electric GT will be previewed by a concept on December 2. It will launch in the late summer of 2026.
The exact details of the electric Range Rover Velar are still under wraps. However, we were able to get the first glimpses of the heavily camouflaged electric SUV back in August. It was being taken to JLR’s Nürburgring test facility in Germany. As per the latest reports, JLR has already received over 48,000 clients on its waitlist. That is a considerable number, especially considering that we don’t have any details about the exterior, interior or powertrains. Clearly, the excitement levels for the luxury electric SUVs are sky-high.
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Learn Electric Cars Says
Despite being a top luxury car brand, Range Rover has not yet released an electric car. The fact that the Velar will be the first EV to use the new platform means that the company will focus on affordability (relatively). In a sense, this will be its volume churner. However, initially, we will have the electric iterations of the Range Rover and Sport. For the next phase, they plan to have an electric version of every model by 2030. We shall keep an eye out for more developments in JLR’s electrification journey.