At a private event after 2026 Beijing Auto Showthe new Freelander Brand launched by Chery And Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has introduced its first production model.
It says Freelander 8and it’s the first of six new SUVs the joint venture has confirmed will hit the market over the next five years. Each model in the new Freelander range will be an SUV.
The brand has also confirmed three international variants from launch: left-hand drive, right-hand drive and a special European specification. All three will be based on a single global architecture, which Freelander says is designed to meet all key regulatory standards from day one.
This approach also extends to the launch itself. Freelander has confirmed that there will be a synchronized global launch, rather than starting in China and later launching abroad, which is the typical pattern for Chinese brands.
There are currently 1,000 prototype vehicles being prepared for testing worldwide and Freelander has confirmed that Australian roads are part of this program.
This is a strong signal that the right-hand drive Freelander 8 is being calibrated for our market, although local timing has not yet been confirmed.
The Freelander 8 is a medium to large six-seat SUV that runs on an 800V electric architecture. It is offered with battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and range extender powertrains.
The range extender variant uses CATLs new Freevoy battery that is 6C capable and supports 360kW peak DC charging.
Off-road, the Freelander 8 has a rear electronic limited-slip differential paired with a virtual center lock and two-chamber air suspension. The setup is designed to ensure flawless off-road capability without the weight or complexity of mechanical lockers.
Key features include 8000 pixel projector headlights and a premium sensor package that includes: Huawei’s 896-line LiDAR. The Freelander 8 will be the world’s first off-road SUV to launch with Huawei’s next-generation Qiankun ADS 4.1 driver assistance system.
The exterior features clear visual links to the original Freelander, including the distinctive triangular rear three-quarter window. Inside, a curved screen that spans the entire dashboard features physical switches and a rotating console controller.
While the interior hasn’t been fully revealed yet, the production prototype on stage at the event showed off a pillar-to-pillar screen as well as a floating infotainment system in the center of the cabin.
It is important that Freelander operates as an independent brand. It sits outside JLR’s portfolio of Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar and is separate from Chery’s portfolio of Chery, Exeed, Omoda, Jaecoo, iCar, Lepas and Luxeed. There is no Land Rover emblem anywhere on the vehicle.
Production of the Freelander 8 takes place at the Chery-JLR factory in Changshu near Shanghai, where the last gasoline-powered Range Rover Evoque rolled off the assembly line just hours before the brand’s first unveiling in March 2026.
Sales in China will begin in the second half of 2026. Next on the list are right-hand drive markets, including the United Kingdom and likely Australia. The Middle East has been confirmed as the first market for the brand’s launch.
