Overview
- Production of the Freelander 8 began at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu on 30 July 2026, and the model went on sale in China after a domestic launch in early September 2026.
- Freelander presented the left-hand-drive Freelander 8 in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, opened registrations of interest for UAE buyers, and named Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors as local distributors.
- The company confirmed Australia and New Zealand as priority right-hand-drive markets for 2027 and appointed Kym Mellow to lead the regional launch, though local pricing, final specifications, and an exact on-sale date remain unannounced.
- Manufacturer-provided technical claims vary by market: Chinese materials describe a dual-motor extended-range EV with a 60 kWh NMC battery and about 310 km WLTC EV range, while UAE materials describe a plug-in hybrid with different battery chemistry and range figures; these figures are company claims and not independently verified.
- Freelander is produced by the 50:50 Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture, which licensed the Freelander name from Jaguar Land Rover in June 2024 and plans six models over five years while selling through existing dealer partners rather than standalone showrooms, a move that could let the brand scale quickly into premium markets.