Chery will unveil the first SUV in its electrified Freelander lineup next Tuesday, March 31. The Chinese automaker’s joint venture with JLR is bringing back the Freelander name as a standalone EV brand.
The revived nameplate will feature both plug-in hybrids and battery-electric models. Unlike the original Land Rover Freelander, these new vehicles won’t carry any Land Rover badges.
Chery operates as the third-largest manufacturer in China’s domestic market. In the UK, the company runs three brands – Omoda, Jaecoo, and Chery.
The tech-heavy Freelander EVs will launch first in China, according to reports from earlier this year.
JLR China boss Qing Pan noted there’s “potential for global expansion” down the road.
PHEV powertrain confirmed
Pan described the new Freelander as a “full-size SUV echoing the original spirit of the Freelander, but brought up-to-date and designed to appeal to the discerning and technologically savvy Chinese consumers.”
The first model – which doesn’t have an official name yet – will be a PHEV. It’s built on Chery’s T1X platform, the same flexible architecture that supports the Jaecoo E5 and Omoda E5 electric models.
That shared platform suggests an electric-only Freelander could join the lineup later.
Design details emerge
Chery has released just one official image so far – a close-up of the headlight. The photo shows clean, squared-off daytime running lights with four separate elements of different sizes.
Other visible design cues include flared wheel arches, a tall hood, and chunky door mirrors. The overall look appears boxy and substantial – not unlike the current Land Rover Defender.
The new Freelander will go on sale in the second half of 2026 through dedicated Chery-run dealerships. Profits from each vehicle will be split between Chery and JLR.
Despite not being part of JLR’s official ‘House of Brands’ – which includes Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery – the Freelander will feature heavy JLR design influence.
The original Freelander debuted in 1997 with three and five-door versions. It was Land Rover’s first monocoque-platform vehicle and, according to Pan, “pioneered the compact premium SUV” segment.
Land Rover discontinued the Freelander in 2015, replacing it with the Discovery Sport.
