Freelander 8 pre‑sales launch delayed to Aug 14 amid Typhoon Dolphin in east China

The pre‑sales event for the Freelander 8 SUV, the first model of the Chery × Jaguar Land Rover joint venture, was moved from August 10 to August 14. The change was announced by the brand’s global chief marketing officer Zhou Wen on Weibo, citing safety for attendees as Typhoon Dolphin approaches the east China coast.

The event was to be held in Changshu, Jiangsu province, near the JV’s production base. Meteorological agencies expect the typhoon to enter the East China Sea on August 7, with orange wave alerts forecasting 6‑10 m waves. The Freelander 8 is a premium electric SUV featuring Huawei’s quad‑LiDAR system, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8397 automotive‑grade chip, and Huawei’s Qiankun ADS, targeting the high‑end off‑road market.

The postponement allows the team to refine preparations while ensuring travel safety for media and customers invited to the launch.