Chery launching yet another brand, this one at the expense of Chinese Land Rovers
And while Freelander will start off as a China-exclusive brand, it's set to eventually go global. That'll see it vie for buyers' attention alongside Chery brands such as Jaecoo, Omoda, iCar/iCaur, Exeed, Exlantix, Jetour and Lepas.
After JLR announced the Freelander brand last June, more details have come to light courtesy of a recent earnings call as well as reports from Autocar and Automotive News Europe.
JLR will end production of its Jaguar XEL and XFL sedans and the E-Pace SUV at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu, China in September, before production of the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport ends there towards the end of 2026.
The British automaker, whose parent company is India's tata Motors, had previously announced it would build Freelander EVs alongside existing Chery Jaguar Land Rover vehicles in Changshu.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Freelander's debut model will reportedly enter production in China in late 2026 with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power, followed by battery-electric (EV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants.
The PHEV could feature the Super Hybrid System used in vehicles like the Omoda 9. In the UK-spec model, this combines a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors, a 34.5kWh battery, and a three-speed transmission for total system outputs of 330kW and 700Nm.
The Omoda 9 is claimed to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds, while claimed electric-only range is 150km on the WLTP cycle.
Freelander SUVs may also offer decent off-road ability, judging by Chery's efforts under the Jetour and iCar brands, but be will likely be positioned as more premium vehicles than, for example, Chery-branded products.
The first Freelander SUV will be based on Chery's T1X platform, which underpins a raft of vehicles from the Chinese automaker ranging from the small Omoda 3 up to the large Chery Tiggo 9L (above). Supplied Credit: CarExpert
But while underneath it'll be pure Chery, the Freelander SUV's exterior styling – which Autocar reports will blend a combination of chunky off-road and sporty coupe SUV design cues – will be penned by JLR chief creative officer Gerry McGovern, who helped design the original Land Rover Freelander.
With a more rakish silhouette than the old Land Rover Freelander, the debut model under the new brand may stand out better against existing Chery models like the blocky Jaecoo J7 (pictured above) and JLR models like the upcoming 'baby' Defender Sport.
Other Freelander models will follow, and JLR has previously said they'll be set apart from not only other Chery brands but also JLR's global 'House of Brands' portfolio, which currently comprises the Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Autocar reports Freelander will launch in the UK before the end of the decade, which almost certainly means right-hand drive production – and therefore means an Australian launch is possible.
The Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture was established in 2012, but sales of its vehicles have slumped in recent years as competition – particularly from domestic brands – has gotten tougher in that market.
As with automakers like Audi, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen, JLR is using a Chinese partner to develop a vehicle that it will sell under one of its own established names.
Freelander vehicles will also be sold via Chery-run dealerships in China.
The original Land Rover Freelander was offered for two generations between 1997 and 2015, with more than 300,000 units sold globally over the course of its life.
The Freelander was only offered in a three-door body style in its first generation, which was replaced in 2006, and then eventually succeeded by the Range Rover Evoque in 2011.
Five-door versions were effectively replaced by the Discovery Sport in 2015.
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SBS Australia
23 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
In a $29 billion race for influence, Australia trails China as our allies turn away
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News.com.au
23 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Australia's success hinges on this decade, PM says
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Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
PM needs to be wary of becoming too reliant on China
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Mary Lawson, Marrickville I read that Trump is suing Murdoch for $15 billion for defamation. His lawyers claim a newspaper article 'malign[s] President Trump's character and integrity'. Question: how can a convicted criminal have character and/or integrity worth $15 billion? Peter Duffy, Burra Has Trump finally done something useful in suing Murdoch? Or has Murdoch actually given us some truth in his rags, calling out a convicted criminal? Paul Fergus, Croydon Wow, I almost find myself in the very strange position of wishing Murdoch well. Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic) Houses of God I think correspondent Jacqui Keats is being rather uncharitable on the subject of churches building high-rise unit blocks (Letters, July 19). Now more than ever, churches need income, especially to house and sustain their ministers and priests, and all the help and succour they give to society besides providing spiritual support to the community. Churches are also suffering the high cost of living and if it means building high-rise apartments, then so be it. Lynne Zahra, Epping Correspondent Tony Doyle wrote that high-rise apartments built by churches were closer to heaven, but with all those extra cars, they will also need deeper basements. It gets satanically hotter parking down there. Yours warmly. Russ Couch, Woonona Respect the planet Millie Muroi has written an important article about the need for 'clear goals' concerning environmental management (' Like ChatGPT, we need clear goals and rules. Otherwise, we could make bad decisions ', July19). After all, if we don't know where we want to go, it doesn't matter which bus we get on. Unfortunately, the goals we espouse involve growth, especially in terms of the economy and population size, both of which being achieved at the expense of the environment. Since this environment provides our life-support system, it is increasingly imperative to address these damaging growth factors and find sustainable, ethical alternatives. Alan Jones, Narraweena At US behest Does anyone believe that the delivery of the 49 Abrams tanks promised to Ukraine was delayed because of 'logistics challenges' (' Australian tanks arrive in Ukraine after nine-month wait ', July19)? I believe it's more likely the nine-month wait was caused by the need to gain Washington's approval. Australia is at the mercy of United States decision makers – or maker. We have out-of-service, US-made Abrams and don't need them. Ukraine does. Australian pledged to help Ukraine, and in October 2024 we said we would send them 49 tanks immediately. The ABC and others report that the United States refused to give us permission to send the tanks to Ukraine. How could Australia have gotten in this deplorable position? Why would our sovereign country need any other country's permission? This raises the question of what else we need permission from the United States for. Carol Dance, Wollstonecraft Ages of consent While many politicians favour lowering the voting age in Australia and elsewhere, there doesn't seem to be a similar enthusiasm for lowering the age at which young people should be treated as adults in court (' Could Australia follow UK's 'shock' move to lower voting age to 16? ' July 19). If 16-year-olds are mature enough to have an equal voice in selecting the government, surely they are mature enough to accept the consequences of their illegal actions as an adult. Or is this lowering of the voting age just pandering for votes rather than a well-reasoned view of maturity? Remember, once the voting age is lowered, there will be no going back. Steen Petersen, Nanaimo (Canada) Not appy, Jen Thank you, Jenna Guillaume (' The app-ocalypse: Please, I beg, don't make me download one more app ', July 19). I find the world of apps exhausting. Like Jenna, I try to avoid them by using my trusty computer, yet somehow I end up with that dreaded word 'app'. Am I sounding like a grumpy old woman? Perhaps I could find an app to help me. Philippa Reiss, Port Macquarie Harmony to discord Best meme from that kiss-cam moment (' CEO of $1.5b tech firm appears caught out on Coldplay 'kiss cam'? July 19)? 'Coldplay haven't released any singles for ages – but they created two last night.' George Zivkovic, Northmead Bastardly act Richard Glover's article about Australian English, including our multiple meanings of the word 'bastards' – from insult to compliment to collective noun – jogged my memory about a story from the 'bodyline' Ashes series in the 1930s (' Do Australians have the best possible version of English? ' July 19). After a particularly acrimonious session, English captain Douglas Jardine stormed into the Australian dressing room to demand an apology after he had been sworn at by an Australian player. Vic Richardson, the Australian captain, called the team together and asked 'which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?' Ian Morris, Strathfield
