Land Rover retires Discovery Sport after 11-year production run — Range Rover GT to follow

Land Rover will bring production of the Discovery Sport to a close in December 2026, marking the end of an 11-year run for the brand's entry-level SUV. A JLR spokesperson confirmed the timeline to Autocar UK, stating that the model's exit is part of its normal product lifecycle as the Halewood plant in the United Kingdom transitions toward manufacturing the company's next generation of vehicles. Factory orders for the Discovery Sport have already ceased in several European markets, including France, Germany and Spain, though the model remains configurable in other regions for now.

Land Rover Discovery Sport decade-long run

The Discovery Sport was introduced in 2015 as the replacement for the Freelander and became Jaguar Land Rover's best-selling model. It recorded more than 122,000 global sales in 2016, its first full year on sale. The SUV received a major update in 2020, bringing a revised platform and a redesigned interior, but sales have declined steadily in recent years.

By 2025, annual Discovery Sport sales had fallen to less than one-tenth of their 2016 peak, making it JLR's lowest-selling model. The larger Land Rover Discovery, which has also been on sale for nearly a decade, is expected to be discontinued in the near future.

In the United States, Land Rover will continue selling the remaining Discovery Sport inventory until stocks are exhausted. After that, the Range Rover Evoque, priced from $51,275, will become the brand's entry-level model in the market.

EU safety rules play a role in the decision

The Discovery Sport's exit from several European markets comes as the European Union's General Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2) comes into effect. The new rules require additional safety features that are not available on the current Discovery Sport. While JLR has updated its newer models to meet these regulations, upgrading the ageing Discovery Sport platform was likely not considered practical.

JLR is not the only manufacturer to take this approach. Porsche also discontinued the combustion-engined Macan in Europe instead of updating it to comply with the new regulations.

What happens to the Land Rover Evoque and Velar

The Discovery Sport shares its production line at Land Rover's Halewood plant in the UK with the Range Rover Evoque, raising questions about the Evoque's future. However, Range Rover managing director Martin Limpert told Autocar UK that there are no immediate plans to discontinue the Evoque.

Limpert said JLR is currently focused on launching the electric Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, while continuing to update the Evoque and Velar through product updates and special editions. Reports suggest the Evoque could remain in production until the Land Rover Defender Sport arrives next year, although JLR has not confirmed a successor for the Discovery Sport.

Range Rover GT set to take over production space

With the Discovery Sport's retirement, Land Rover is expected to use capacity at its Halewood plant for the upcoming Range Rover GT. Built on JLR's new Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, the GT features a coupe-style roofline, a lower ride height, and will launch as a pure electric vehicle. JLR has also confirmed that a full-hybrid version will follow. Inside, the Range Rover GT adopts a minimalist layout with a slim digital instrument cluster and a large central infotainment touchscreen.

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