The Freelander 8, the first production model from the FREELANDER brand co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, went on sale in China on September 3, 2026. The new SUV is positioned as an "intelligent all-terrain" vehicle, combining range-extender powertrain technology with AI-driven off-road capabilities. According to Chinese automotive outlet First Electric (d1ev.com), the model is the first fruit of the "joint venture 3.0" cooperation between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, with Huawei, CATL, Qualcomm, and ZF contributing key components.
The Freelander 8 is offered in five-seat and six-seat configurations, with official guide prices ranging from 309,900 to 399,900 yuan (about $43,600 to $56,300). A limited-time preferential price of 289,900 to 379,900 yuan (about $40,800 to $53,500) applies at launch. These are Chinese guide prices before taxes and incentives.
Powertrain and battery
All versions of the Freelander 8 use an EREV (range-extender electric vehicle) setup, featuring a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder range extender with a thermal efficiency of 45.79%. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system delivers a combined output of 610 kW (about 818 hp) and 813 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in as little as 4.6 seconds.
The battery is a CATL-supplied "Shenxing" unit designed specifically for all-terrain use, with a capacity of 60.3 kWh. It provides a CLTC electric-only range of 310 km (WLTP est. 250-265 km; CLTC figures are typically 15-20% more optimistic than WLTP). The vehicle is built on an 800V high-voltage architecture and supports 6C fast charging, allowing a 20-80% charge in about 12 minutes.
AI and chassis technology
In terms of driver assistance, the Freelander 8 comes standard with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 5 system, with higher trims featuring a 896-line LiDAR. Huawei and the Freelander brand jointly developed the i-ATS intelligent all-terrain system, which integrates LiDAR, visual perception, and vehicle dynamics to adapt to different surfaces. ZF contributed to the AI road-sensing system, enabling the car to recognize mud, sand, and other conditions, and adjust the all-terrain control strategy accordingly.
The cabin is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8397 automotive-grade chip, offering a threefold increase in CPU performance, nearly threefold in GPU, and a 12-fold boost in NPU compared to the previous 8295 platform. The display setup includes a 15.6-inch Mini LED central touchscreen, a 46.3-inch remote display, and a 17.3-inch rear ceiling screen.
Chassis hardware includes closed dual-chamber air suspension, continuously controlled damping (CCD) shock absorbers, a front mechanical differential lock, and ±10° rear-wheel steering. The combination of mechanical off-road capability and AI-driven control is what distinguishes the Freelander 8 from traditional luxury SUVs, according to First Electric.
The supply chain for the Freelander 8 reflects a trend toward cross-supplier integration, with Chery and Jaguar Land Rover's joint venture leading the integration of Huawei's perception, ZF's chassis control, and CATL's high-voltage hybrid technology. This approach extends the concept of all-terrain driving from purely mechanical hardware to include AI-assisted powertrain and chassis management.
