The Freelander SUV from the Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture was seen in China during road tests ahead of the official debut. This model stands on the Chery-developed E0X modular architecture. It will first launch in China with long-term overseas ambitions.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has faced several challenges recently, with Jaguar’s abrupt shift in strategy towards NEVs, the introduction of 25% tariffs in the US, and a continuous sales decline in China. And China became one of the biggest points of concern for the Tata-owned company. Its joint venture with Chery (Chery Jaguar Land Rover, CJLR), formed in 2012, will soon face dramatic changes.
Chery Jaguar Land Rover plans to cease the production of all its models by the end of 2026. This plant, completed in 2014, currently assembles five models: the Range Rover Evoque, the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Jaguar XFL, the Jaguar XEL, and the Jaguar E-Pace. Soon, they all will be replaced by the new project with Chery that aims to reset the JLR business in China. It is the launch of the new EV brand Freelander. Its first model was seen in China during road tests.
The first Freelander SUV spotted in China
The photo of the Freelander SUV was taken in Suzhou city, Jiangsu province. The Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant is located in Changshu county-level city under the jurisdiction of Suzhou. So, this vehicle undergoes road tests almost at the doorstep of the CJLR factory.
The first crossover for the Freelander brand was seen wearing heavy camouflage. Its body shape refers to the Range Rover Sport. It has a high bonnet line, a flat roofline, and a short rear overhang. At a glance, this SUV might look compact due to its short bumpers and a long wheelbase. However, it is a full-size vehicle with a body length of around 5.1 meters. For clarity, the LCV in the background of the Freelander is the Maxus V80 with a body length of 4.95 meters.
The first Freelander model boasts retractable door handles, slanted A-pillars, and large side-view mirrors. The spotted vehicle rides on blackened rims. It also has a set of extra sensors on the roof, typical for test cars in China. Another highlight of this SUV is its high ground clearance. Previously, the first Freelander SUV was said to have three rows of seats on board with a 2+2+2 layout.
The Freelander SUV is called internally as E0V. This SUV was previously teased as a part of Chery’s high-end Exeed brand. It stands on the E0X modular architecture, compatible with BEV and EREV powertrain variants. It provides a peak power of up to 413 kW (553 hp), air suspension, and the L2 ADAS. With a transfer to the CJLR’s project, the E0V crossover was seriously redesigned.
Editor’s comment
The Freelander E0V will enter the Chinese market in 2026 to rival full-size crossovers from domestic brands. Its core opponents include a wide range of SUVs from the ultimate Yangwang U8 and Zeekr 9X to affordable Deepal S09 and Geely Galaxy M9. This market segment is one of the most crowded in China. So, the CJLR will face another challenge of earning a place in the sun.
