Quick summary: JLR now builds the Defender 110 at its Pune plant. The locally made X-Dynamic HSE starts at Rs 99 lakh and the 3.0-litre versions cost Rs 1.18 crore, ex-showroom. Compared with a similar imported car, buyers save up to Rs 34 lakh and also get up to 29 features as standard. The Defender 90, 130 and OCTA are still imported.
For years, every Defender sold in India came fully built from Slovakia. That changed on 27 October 2026, when JLR started assembling the Land Rover Defender 110 in Pune. We already covered the Defender 110 price cut. This story answers the next question most buyers have. What really changes between a Made in India Defender and an imported one?
How the Made in India Defender is built
The new Defender 110 is built from CKD kits. CKD means completely knocked down. The parts come from JLR's plant in Nitra, Slovakia, and the car is put together in Pune. A CKD kit pays less import duty than a fully built car, and that is where most of the saving comes from.
India is the first market outside Europe to build the Defender. Nitra will still make the global range, including the Defender 90, 130 and OCTA. JLR has sold more than 9,000 Defenders in India in the last three and a half years and expects local assembly to lift sales by up to 20 percent.
Price: imported vs Made in India
JLR compared the new prices with a fully loaded imported car, meaning the base price plus the options most buyers added. All prices are ex-showroom.
| Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE | Imported base price | Imported with options | Made in India price | Saving vs loaded import |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P300 2.0 petrol | Rs 1.07 crore | Rs 1.135 crore | Rs 99 lakh | about Rs 14.5 lakh |
| P400 3.0 petrol | Rs 1.35 crore | Rs 1.52 crore | Rs 1.18 crore | Rs 34 lakh |
| D350 3.0 diesel | Rs 1.35 crore | Rs 1.52 crore | Rs 1.18 crore | Rs 34 lakh |
The new prices match Land Rover India's official price list. Note that 1 percent TCS is extra.
What stays the same
- Engines: P300 2.0 petrol with 300 PS and 400 Nm, P400 3.0 petrol with 400 PS and 550 Nm, and D350 3.0 diesel with 350 PS and 700 Nm.
- Gearbox and drive: 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive on all three.
- Performance: 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds for the P300, 6.1 seconds for the P400 and 6.4 seconds for the D350.
- Body and seats: the same five-door 110 with room for up to seven in a 5+2 layout.
- Off-road hardware: 900 mm wading depth and up to 293 mm ground clearance with the air suspension raised.
What changes
The biggest change after price is the kit list. Many things that used to be paid options are now standard.
- P300 gets 17 extra features: electronic air suspension, Adaptive Dynamics, Terrain Response 2, Wade Sensing, ClearSight interior mirror, a cooled front centre box and three-zone climate control with rear cooling.
- P400 and D350 get 29 extra features: on top of the above, Configurable Terrain Response, an electronic active differential with torque vectoring, 20-inch diamond-turned alloys, heated third-row seats, 14-way heated and cooled front seats with memory, Windsor leather with Kvadrat, a suedecloth headliner, Meridian surround sound and a head-up display.
- Choice: the local car comes only in X-Dynamic HSE trim. Other trims of the 110 and all other body styles stay imported.
Questions buyers are asking
Is the build quality different?
The parts and design are the same as the imported car, since the kits come from Nitra, which stays the centre of excellence for the Defender. Pune already assembles other JLR models like the Range Rover Evoque. We will judge the finish properly once we drive a Pune-built car.
What about warranty and service?
JLR has not announced any change to warranty or service plans for the local car. Ask your dealer to confirm the warranty in writing before you book.
Will resale value drop?
A lower new price usually pulls down used prices too. Owners of imported Defender 110s may see some impact. The good news for new buyers is that a better-equipped car at a lower price should hold value well.
Should I still buy an imported Defender?
Only if you need something the local car does not offer, such as the three-door 90, the eight-seat 130, the V8 OCTA, or a different 110 trim. For most 110 buyers, the Made in India car is the better deal.
Watch: Defender 110
Our take
The Made in India Defender 110 is the same car with the same engines, but now with more kit and a much lower price. If you were waiting for the right time to buy a Defender 110, this is it. Want to compare it with German rivals? Read our Defender 110 vs BMW X5 vs Mercedes GLE comparison. Still deciding on body style? See Defender 110 vs 130 vs OCTA. You can also read our Defender review and the locally made Range Rover Evoque story. For a full comparison of body styles, prices and engines, read Defender 110 vs 130 vs OCTA: which one to buy.
FAQ
Where is the Made in India Defender built?
It is assembled at JLR's plant in Pune using CKD kits from Nitra, Slovakia.
What is the price of the Made in India Defender 110?
The X-Dynamic HSE costs Rs 99 lakh for the 2.0 petrol and Rs 1.18 crore for the 3.0 petrol and 3.0 diesel, ex-showroom.
How much cheaper is the local Defender?
Up to Rs 34 lakh cheaper than a similarly equipped imported P400 or D350, and about Rs 14.5 lakh cheaper for the P300.
Are the engines different on the local Defender?
No. It uses the same P300, P400 and D350 engines with an 8-speed automatic and AWD.
Are the Defender 90, 130 and OCTA made in India?
No. Only the Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE is locally assembled. The others are still imported.
Does the local Defender get more features?
Yes. The P300 gets 17 previously optional features as standard and the P400 and D350 get 29.