Freelander has presented a five-seat version of the 8 for international markets, joining the previously shown six-seat configuration. The update was announced at Chery’s 2026 International User Summit in Wuhu, China. Sales in the UAE are expected to start in the first quarter of 2027; the company says local specifications, prices and other details will be disclosed closer to then.
The brand has also signed distribution partnerships with Ibrahim Khalil Kanoo Group in Bahrain and Saud Bahwan Group in Oman. No local launch dates, prices or specifications were provided for either market. The agreements add to its UAE network, which includes Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors.
Freelander says its international rollout will begin in the UAE before extending to other Middle Eastern markets and countries with left-hand-drive vehicles. A later phase is planned for right-hand-drive markets, starting with Australia and New Zealand, followed by continental Europe, then the UK and Ireland. The five-seat cabin offers two rows instead of the six-seater’s three. The company also highlighted an AI voice assistant based on a brand-specific large language model, a Qualcomm SA8295P chip, a 46.3-inch Mini LED display and standard L2+ driver-assistance systems. Jaguar Land Rover owns the Freelander name and is developing the vehicles with China’s Chery; the name traces back to the original Land Rover Freelander, launched in 1997.