Chery Jaguar Land Rover launches Freelander brand with Freelander 8 SUV

Chery Jaguar Land Rover, a 50:50 joint venture between Chery Automobile and JLR, has launched the Freelander brand. The first model, the Freelander 8, was officially introduced at a global launch event in Abu Dhabi.

The Freelander 8 is a premium large SUV designed by Phil Simmons, utilizing a Chery platform combined with JLR design and all-terrain heritage. In China, the vehicle is available as a dual-motor all-wheel drive extended range EV with 610kW of power.

The brand is expanding internationally, with the United Arab Emirates serving as the first market outside of China. Australia and New Zealand have been identified as priority right-hand-drive markets, where the Freelander 8 is expected to arrive in 2027. Kym Mellow has been appointed to lead the brand in the Australian and New Zealand regions.