Chery Freelander 8 unveiled at Auto China 2026, first production model with JLR JV

Chinese automaker Chery unveiled the Freelander 8, an SUV which the company is making in a joint venture with Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The Freelander was a popular model in the mid 2010s; however, JLR pulled the plug to introduce the new Defender. In addition to that, the Freelander 8 is expected to be one of the first models to be launched under the JLR Chery joint venture.

Chery Freelander 8: Design

The Freelander 8 boasts the same design as the Concept 97, which was revealed earlier this month. Not only that, but the SUV boasts triangular glass elements, paying tribute to the original Freelander models. In addition to that, the Freelander 8 gets air vents and rectangular accents on the front bumper instead of the closed-out grille on the Concept 97. The production model is expected to be equipped with conventional doors, as opposed to the suicide doors on the concept car. However, the production model is expected to retain the alloy wheels from the concept model. It is also going to feature prominent lettering on the grille as well as the rear section of the SUV.

Chery Freelander 8: Interior

The interior of the SUV continues to be under wraps by the Chinese automaker. However, the company has confirmed a few features, including a concept-inspired Mini LED screen stretching the full width of the windshield to display navigation and vehicle data. The manufacturer noted the cabin includes high-mounted front seats for superior road visibility and specialised rear seating designed for deep reclining comfort. This model is anticipated to launch with a six-seat interior layout.

Chery Freelander 8: Safety

Built on a specialised platform, the Freelander 8 can be available with both electric motors and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with the fully electric variants utilising an 800V architecture. Additionally, Huawei technology takes care of the advanced safety systems, which are expected to be paired with a roof-integrated LiDAR sensor. The internal electronics, on the other hand, are expected to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 processor alongside a dedicated terrain management system.

While the debut date remains unknown, the SUV will first be launched in China before heading to international markets. There is still no confirmation regarding an Indian release.

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