Range Rover has opened orders for its first electric vehicle, the Range Rover Electric, with a US starting price of around $138,000 (£154,070), as luxury EV demand remains weak. The launch follows criticism of Tesla's nearly $120,000 Cybertruck, which has been labeled the biggest flop in automotive history because of weak sales and pricing concerns. Designed to closely resemble its gasoline-powered siblings, the SUV uses twin 260kW permanent-magnet motors producing up to 550PS (543hp) and 850Nm of torque. Range Rover says it delivers V8-level power while accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 4.3 seconds with near-silent operation. The vehicle can ford nearly three feet of water and climb 45-degree slopes using single-pedal driving. Its traction system reacts within 50 milliseconds, which Range Rover says is around 100 times faster than the system in a gasoline-powered Range Rover. A 118.5kWh double-stacked lithium-ion battery, supported by 800-volt architecture, provides an estimated 372 miles of range that has not yet been EPA-certified. Charging from 10% to 80% takes 22 minutes, while up to 137 miles can be added in 10 minutes at peak charging rates. A native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port comes standard in the US, enabling access to Tesla's Supercharger network. The Electric is priced above the Cadillac Escalade IQ at about $127,000, the Mercedes EQS SUV at about $91,000 and the Lucid Gravity at about $80,000. Range Rover is positioning the model as a luxury vehicle, highlighting a twin-chamber air suspension, an interior refrigerator and a fold-out drinks table. The first edition is limited to 2,500 units globally. The launch is taking place in a US EV market where electric vehicles represented 5.8% of new-car sales last quarter and sales fell 20.5% year over year, according to Kelley Blue Book. The recovery has been led by hybrids and less expensive EVs, while Mercedes-Benz has offered up to $25,000 in dealer cash on its 2026 Maybach EQS and Lucid has reduced its 2026 production plans because of soft US demand. The expired $7,500 federal tax credit would not have applied to the Range Rover Electric because SUVs faced an $80,000 price cap. Range Rover managing director Martin Limpert said customers want an electric model only if it preserves the brand's performance, comfort, all-terrain ability and calm driving experience. He said the United States is a priority growth market for JLR because the opportunity for luxury brands remains strong. Range Rover is betting that electrification will enhance qualities such as smooth performance, acceleration, refinement and quietness, while interest in electric propulsion at fellow British luxury marque Rolls-Royce supports the appeal of that proposition.