Land Rover has confirmed that it will end production of the Discovery Sport in December 2026, bringing the SUV’s 11-year production run to a close. The entry-level luxury SUV has seen declining demand in recent years, prompting JLR to phase it out as part of its product lifecycle. The move will also free up production capacity for the upcoming all-electric Range Rover GT.
Discovery Sport To Bow Out After 11 Years
The Discovery Sport entered global markets in 2015 as the successor to the Freelander. It quickly became one of JLR’s biggest success stories, recording over 122,000 global sales in 2016. However, demand has steadily declined despite receiving a facelift in 2020 with updated styling, technology and mechanical improvements.
JLR has now confirmed that production will officially end in December 2026. Several European markets have already stopped accepting factory orders as the company prepares to phase out the SUV.
Falling Sales Led To The Decision
The Discovery Sport enjoyed strong sales during its early years. However, changing buyer preferences and growing competition in the premium SUV segment reduced its popularity.
By 2025, global sales had dropped to less than one-tenth of their 2016 peak. That made the Discovery Sport the lowest-selling model in JLR’s portfolio, making its discontinuation a logical business decision.
New Safety Rules Also Played A Role
The introduction of the European Union’s updated GSR2 safety regulations also influenced the decision. These rules require manufacturers to equip vehicles with additional advanced safety systems.
Updating the ageing Discovery Sport platform to meet these requirements would have required significant investment. Instead, JLR chose to retire the SUV rather than spend heavily on an ageing product.
Range Rover Evoque Will Continue
Although the Discovery Sport shares its production line with the Range Rover Evoque, the Evoque will remain on sale.
JLR has confirmed that it will continue updating both the Evoque and Velar with special editions and product improvements. The company believes both SUVs still have a strong customer base across global markets.
Range Rover GT Will Replace It On The Production Line
The end of Discovery Sport production will create space for the upcoming Range Rover GT at JLR’s Halewood manufacturing facility.
The Range Rover GT will be an all-electric luxury grand tourer based on the brand’s new EMA platform. It represents a major shift for the company as it expands its electric vehicle portfolio.
Prices In India
The Land Rover Discovery Sport remains on sale in India at an ex-showroom price of around Rs 67 lakh. Since production will continue until the end of 2026, Indian buyers can still purchase the SUV through available dealer inventory. However, once production ends, Land Rover is unlikely to introduce a direct replacement for the model in India.
What This Means For Buyers
The Discovery Sport played an important role in expanding Land Rover’s global reach by offering a more accessible luxury SUV. However, the market has changed significantly over the past decade, with buyers increasingly preferring newer electric and hybrid models.
For Indian buyers, the Discovery Sport will remain available for now. However, those considering the SUV may also look at newer alternatives in the luxury SUV segment that offer more modern technology and longer product life cycles. As JLR shifts its focus toward electrification, the upcoming Range Rover GT is expected to become one of the brand’s most significant launches in the coming years.
