Freelander revived: EV-only JLR-Chery SUV to arrive on March 31
Chery has confirmed that the first SUV in its range of electrified Freelander models will be unveiled next Tuesday, March 31.
The Chinese automotive giant operates in the UK under its Omoda, Jaecoo, and Chery brands. In its domestic market, Chery is the third-largest manufacturer, and its joint venture with JLR will relaunch the Freelander name as a standalone EV brand comprising plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and electric-only models.
With its range of tech-heavy EVs, Freelander will first launch in China without any Land Rover badging. However, JLR China boss Qing Pan said that there is “potential for global expansion” in the future.
New Freelander EV powertrain
Pan described the reborn nameplate 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 Freelander EV is yet to be named, but we know it will be a PHEV built using Chery’s flexible T1X platform, which also underpins the brand’s electric-only Jaecoo E5 and Omoda E5. In the context of Pan’s comments, the Freelander’s running gear suggests an electric-only version could be part of the brand’s future lineup.
New Freelander design
The only official image of the new Freelander EV is one of a headlight. The picture shows a clean, squared-off DRL design comprising four separate elements of varying sizes. Other design cues include blurred flared wheel arches, a tall bonnet, and chunky door mirrors, suggesting a boxy design not dissimilar to the Land Rover Defender.
When it goes on sale in the second half of 2026, the Freelander EV will be sold through a network of dedicated Chery-run dealerships. Profits from each vehicle will be split between Chery and JLR. Despite not falling under the latter’s ‘House of Brands’, including Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery, the Freelander will be heavily influenced by JLR design.
In its original form, the Freelander debuted in 1997 in three and five-door bodystyles. It was the first Land Rover to adopt a monocoque platform, and, according to Pan, it “pioneered the compact premium SUV”. The Freelander was sold until 2015, when it eventually made way for the Discovery Sport.
