Quick look
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Freelander will be a standalone brand from the JLR-Chery joint venture in China.
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The modern Freelander 8 will have electrified powertrains with a platform developed by Chery.
The Freelander will soon return… but not quite as you remember it. While the badge once lived on the tailgate of Land Rover’s smallest model, it has been reimagined as a standalone premium brand.
Making its global debut at Auto China 2026 this week in production-intent form, the Freelander 8 marks the first outcome of the 50:50 partnership between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chery which goes back to 2012. That’s partly why OMODA |JAECOO models have seemed to have Range Rover elements.
Significance of the original
To understand the significance of this revival, one has to look back to 1997. The original Land Rover Freelander was a radical departure for the British automaker well known for 4×4 models. It was the first Land Rover to move away from rugged body-on-frame construction to the car-based monocoque chassis.
It proved that there was a massive market for a small ‘lifestyle’ SUV, just as the segment was starting to explode globally. The second generation, the Freelander 2, refined this formula under Ford’s ownership before the nameplate was retired by Tata Motors (which bought over the British company in 2008) in 2015 to make way for the Discovery Sport.
Now, the name is being repositioned as a ‘British premium intelligent all-terrain brand’. It will be built at a joint venture factory in China which first began making the Range Rover Evoque for the market.
New and old elements
Phil Simmons, who was responsible for the style of the Range Rover Velar and current Defender, is also responsible for the new Freelander. The design utilizes a ‘castle body’ theme, characterized by a planted, muscular lower half and a lighter, glass-heavy upper cabin. Those who remember the original Freelander will notice the 1990s signature rear-quarter window and the upright 5.1-metre long silhouette.
However, the tech is purely 2026, with a platform developed largely by Chery. True to its 4×4 legacy, the Freelander 8 aims to offer its legendary all-terrain credibility. It introduces the Intelligent All-Terrain System which has 9 automated modes to handle varying surfaces.
Chery E0X platform
The Chery-developed E0X platform allows the Freelander 8 to use different electrified powertrains (BEV, PHEV and REEV) and is almost certainly going to have 800V architecture for fast-charging.
The platform will include advanced hardware such as air suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential, and a virtual centre locking function. While the original Freelander was often teased for its lack of a low-range gearbox, this new-generation SUV uses software and instant electric torque to bridge the gap between urban commuting and adventures off the highway.
With Chery involved in this new model, you can be sure that pricing of the Freelander 8 will be more ‘accessible’ (relative, of course, to its target segment) than past Land Rover models which have had high pricetags. The legacy of the name and its association with Land Rover should give it an advantage in the crowded electric SUV segment.
