A Freelander 8 on display at the model’s launch event in Beijing on September 3, 2026. Credit: Freelander
- The Freelander 8, developed by a joint venture between Chery and JLR, starts at 289,900 yuan ($42,770) after incentives.
- It is the first model from the revived Freelander brand, with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5 standard across the lineup.
The Freelander brand, jointly developed by Chery (HKEX: 9973) and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has disclosed initial orders for its first model following its launch, signaling early acceptance of the vehicle.
The Freelander 8 received more than 5,000 firm orders within 12 hours of its launch, Freelander said on Friday.
In China, firm orders typically refer to orders for which buyers have locked in their vehicle configurations and paid non-refundable deposits.
The Freelander 8 was officially launched in Beijing on September 3, entering China’s highly competitive luxury extended-range SUV (sport utility vehicle) market.
The model is offered in Pro, Max and Max+ variants, priced from 289,900 yuan ($42,770) to 379,900 yuan after incentives. That is 20,000 yuan below its official price range of 309,900 yuan to 399,900 yuan.
The entry-level price after incentives was cut by 40,000 yuan from the pre-sales price of 329,900 yuan announced on August 21. Chinese automakers commonly use this strategy to make final pricing appear better than expected.
A first edition limited to 1,000 units sold out before the launch. It had a firm-order price of 449,900 yuan after incentives.
The Freelander 8 is available in 5-seat and 2+2+2 6-seat configurations. It measures 5,118 mm in length and has a wheelbase of 3,040 mm.
All variants come standard with dual-motor all-wheel drive, delivering a combined 610 kW (818 hp) and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.
The battery is supplied by CATL (HKEX: 3750) and has a capacity of 60.3 kWh, providing a CLTC battery-only range of 310 kilometers.
The vehicle is built on an 800-volt 6C high-voltage extended-range platform, allowing the battery to charge from 20% to 80% in as little as 12 minutes.
For driver assistance, Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5 is standard across the Freelander 8 lineup, although the hardware and available features vary by trim.
Freelander was originally a classic model line under Jaguar Land Rover and was transformed into a standalone brand focused on new energy vehicles (NEVs) on March 31. The brand plans to launch 6 models over the next 5 years.
The first overseas version of the Freelander 8 will be a left-hand-drive model for the Middle East, with its launch expected between late this year and early next year.
The Freelander 8 starts at 289,900 yuan ($42,750) after incentives and has a CLTC battery-only range of 310 km.
($1 = 6.7787 yuan)
