Chery and Jaguar Land Rover's collaboration will soon launch its first sub-brand called the Freelander. The first car that this collaboration will launch is the Chery-JLR Freelander 8 SUV, which will mark its world debut in the UAE. While the test units of the upcoming Freelander 8 have arrived in the Middle East for extreme GCC testing, the company has already begun production of this SUV in China.

Chery-JLR Freelander 8 production begins: What it means for the UAE?

The production of the upcoming Freelander 8 SUV has commenced at Chery-JLR Super Factory based in Changshu, China. The new Freelander 8 is an ambitious project for the Chery-JLR partnership, and it will mark its world debut in Abu Dhabi in September 2026.

Chery-JLR has announced that the Middle Eastern market is its top priority market, and introducing the Freelander 8 to the world from the UAE will position the brand strongly against rivals like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, and BYD Denza.

The Freelander 8 is based on a new platform that has been co-developed by Chery and JLR teams. This platform allows for a 2+2+2 seating layout, thus offering a spacious cabin for families, while allowing for a range-extender powertrain.

Powering the Freelander 8 is a 60.331 kWh battery that is paired with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The engine here acts as a generator and powers the battery, while dual electric motors drive the SUV all the time. It also gets Huawei’s trademark off-road intelligence system that comes paired with locking differentials on the select variants, while offering a CLTC-claimed pure electric range of 221 km.

While Chery-JLR has scheduled to launch an EV version in the future, the Freelander 8 will be introduced as an EREV or range-extender electric vehicle initially. It will be available in the UAE by September 2026, and it is likely to be priced around the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Hybrid.

The exterior styling of the Freelander 8 resembles the original Freelander SUV. It boasts a conventional boxy SUV design with proportional body panels, sleek LED lights, and subtle design cues. 

On the inside, it packs a spacious and rich cabin made out of high-quality materials, second-row captain seats with zero-gravity rotating feature and ventilation, heating, and power adjustment. It also features a massive full-width 46.3-inch 8K panoramic screen along with a 15.6-inch central infotainment screen.

Some of the main features of the Chery-JLR Freelander 8 include the LiDAR-based ADAS safety suite, Huawei Smart Cockpit, Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, AI-assisted voice commands, and more.

Chery-JLR had recently showcased the Freelander 8 in the UAE, along with the announcement that it will mark its global debut here. Moreover, the brand has begun testing several prototype units for heat, performance, off-road, and other GCC market requirements.

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