Electric Car News - Will luxury car leasing still work for businesses on the upcoming Range Rover GT?

The upcoming Range Rover GT-Will luxury car leasing still work for businesses?

The Land Rover / Range Rover group have been questionably quiet on the all-electric front. With only the Jaguar I-Pace, which was a tremendous luxury performance car at the time of launch in 2019, to offer the UK leasing market, our guide to the best Land Rover deals have been somewhat blank .

As we have covered more recently, some luxury and performance brands have been either investing heavily into the battery segment, like the recent Ferrari Luce - or they have been more outspoken and critical about the push into zero-emissions, like the Lamborghini and Bentley teams. However, what has not been well publicised is the silent investment which Tata Motors have been making into the UK’s electric economy.

The Tata Group Agratas manufacturing facility, which is in Somerset, forms part of a £4 billion investment into battery production. With support from the UK Government, in the form of a £380 million grant, the Agratas gigafactory will see some 40 gigawatt hours of battery cells produced annually.

To be clear, a gigawatt (GW) is equivalent to one (1) billion watts, so this is by no means a small feat. With a 4,000 UK workforce expected, this is not a half measure, with the brand now firmly fixed on making the functionality for their JLR models, commercial vehicles and for energy storage systems.

You can find out more info at the Agratas company website, which sets out just how firmly committed the group are to the zero-emission transition. Perhaps they are not unlike Tesla, who founded company success on engineering, technology and infrastructure principles before they began the mass production and sale of the vehicles.

Discover the new electric Range Rover GT

The new  Range Rover GT  will continue to build on the ambition to create legendary capability with luxury reimagined. The third EV which the group have confirmed, after the full-size and Sport, the GT is set to be fully confirmed later in 2026 as their newest Grand Tourer.

So, unlike the full-size and Sport Range Rovers, this will not be the traditional SUV and may have more synergy with the saloon options which their sister-company Jaguar produces.

A sleek silhouette and coupe proportions, the Range Rover team are now engaging with the car market, as opposed to just the 4x4 and SUV one. Promising hidden technologies, tactile materials, plenty of rear cabin space and built on their EMA (electrified modular architecture), this is planning to deviate the elite brand away from its traditional routes. The RR team have confirmed that this is not a Velar replacement either.

So, with the combination of solid batteries, clinical design and emotive luxury, will the new Range Rover BEVs make an impact in 2026 / 2027? If you read the  BBC  report on the recent job cuts, you may jump to the conclusion that this is poor timing.

As noted, the JLR team have decided to remove just 300 jobs as the group reacts to the move into EV and further competition issues created by China and tariffs. However, the team also had to manage a serious cyberattack which rendered the West Midlands factory shut for nearly 3 weeks, creating a profitability position of just £14m compared to £2.4bn the previous year.

However, the cuts in workforce are somewhat nominal when you consider the moves by other European brands who are also contending with the same external pressures. The announcement by JLR is actually not quite as profound as is being conveyed.

The UK continues to grow in appetite towards the battery vehicle market. 2026 has been a breakout year for EVs, where both new and used options are now being freely purchased or leased, setting out a confidence for personal and business customers. However, for the Range Rover electric to succeed, it really needs to connect with the SMEs, company car schemes and salary sacrifice schemes which are fuelling massive growth and gains in the UK automotive market.

This is obvious when we are discussing the more expensive and pricey side of the car market. When you are looking at this from a business perspective, there are some crucial gains and savings over a combustion vehicle:

•  Ability to offset 100% of the rentals against Corporation Tax
•  Ability to claim 50% of the VAT against finance rentals and 100% VAT on the service / maintenance
•  Low company car tax / Bik – just 4% for 2026 / 2027
•  Offset charge point infrastructure against Corporation Tax
•  Electricity is not considered as “fuel” by HMRC, so your business can charge the vehicle and this does not create a taxable benefit for you

•  RFL / VED is still cheaper for a zero-emission vehicle. Even with the eVED, a 0g/km vehicle is still cheaper 

For many businesses, the owners and directors have probably been adopting the philosophy of going down the commercial vehicle route.

While this means vehicles such as the Land Rover Discovery Commercial and the Land Rover Defender, some of the drivers are utilising them for the tax position as opposed to the way they drive or look. Indeed, in moving to these vehicles you lose the ability to have passengers, which makes them a truly terrible family car.

With the onset of electrification, those UK businesses who do actually need a rugged commercial vehicle will instead turn to the electric formats. Not only are they more practical family options, they drive better, quicker performance, cheaper to fuel / run (when charging at home), cover 300 miles on a full charge and are cheaper to service and maintain. If this is a financial decision, rather than the emotional one, then the Range Rover electric is the winning choice. 

Need more help and advice on your new Land Rover or Range Rolver electric?

Head to the Land Rover special offers section on our website or get in touch with our team on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected].