Freelander is set to expand into the United Kingdom and Europe after an initial rollout in the Middle East and North Africa, followed by Australia and New Zealand. The UK is part of the brand’s third phase of market expansion, but no arrival year has been announced. Freelander was formerly a Land Rover model name; in 2024, the name was licensed to Chery for a range of electric vehicles aimed at export markets.
The first model is the Freelander 8, a three-row SUV unveiled by the Chery group in April after the Concept 97. It is one of six new vehicles planned over the next five years. The company says the brand eventually intends to sell in 90 countries. Freelander CEO Wen Fei has said overseas versions will be developed for their individual markets rather than simply adapted from Chinese-market vehicles.
For the UK, reports point to a plug-in hybrid using a 2.0-litre petrol engine and two electric motors, with a combined 626 PS. A 34 kWh battery is said to provide up to 109 km of electric driving, and the vehicle is expected to support charging at up to 350 kW. By comparison, Chinese reports describe a range-extended version with a 1.5-litre turbo engine and a 60.331 kWh battery, offering up to 221 km of WLTP electric range.
The export programme also involves a change at Chery’s Changsha facility, where production of Jaguar Land Rover models is due to give way to Chery-based Freelander vehicles. The company has also said it will test prototypes in Southeast Asia and other markets. Malaysia has not yet been confirmed as a sales destination.