New Freelander To Make Its Debut Next Week

Back in 2024, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and China’s Chery announced plans to jointly develop a new range of electrified vehicles for their joint venture, CJLR. These cars will be sold under the new Freelander brand, a name previously used by Land Rover for its compact SUV. It has now been announced that the new Freelander will debut on March 31st.

The partnership will leverage the brands’ individual strengths, leveraging Chery’s manufacturing (in Changshu) and development resources, along with Land Rover’s design capabilities. All vehicles will be SUVs that, according to earlier announcements, will use the Chery vehicle architecture. The platform is designed to support both all-electric and extended-range powertrains while enabling ultra-fast charging.

The first model in the new Freelander range will be an electrified SUV that will be launched on the market in the second half of 2026. It is expected to have three rows of seats, with an overall length stretching over 5100mm.

The first car will “reflect the original spirit of the Freelander, but will be modernized to appeal to demanding, tech-savvy Chinese consumers,” according to Chery.

The Freelander range will first launch in China, with “potential for global expansion.” The Freelander will be in a different market segment from JLR’s imported top-of-the-range models in the country, such as the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Land Rover Defender.

JLR said the Freelander will be sold through a network of its own dedicated dealerships run by Chery.

• Also See: Land Rover Confirms Only The Next-Gen Defender Will Be Electric