Chery-built Freelander 8 revealed in regulatory filings: a 3,495 kg SUV features CATL and Huawei tech
Freelander 8, the first model under the revived Freelander brand by the Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture, was today revealed in filings from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The vehicle, which made its debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, is positioned as a “luxury tech all-terrain SUV” and is expected to officially launch in the second half of this year.
The Freelander 8: design and specifications
The Freelander 8 adopts a classic “boxy” silhouette characterised by straight, rugged lines and a closed front-face design. Key physical specifications include:
- Dimensions: Length of 5118 mm (or 5185 mm depending on trim), width of 2050 mm, and height of 1898 mm.
- Wheelbase: 3040 mm.
- Platform: Built on the new iMax architecture, supporting BEV, EREV, and PHEV powertrains.
In the Chinese market, the Freelander 8 will come standard with an 800V high-voltage EREV platform. It features a Freevoy hybrid battery developed with CATL, capable of a 6C peak discharge rate and a peak charging power of 350kW.
Advanced intelligence and collaboration
The Freelander 8 is equipped with a roof-mounted LiDAR system and will be the first in its lineup to standardise the Huawei Qiankun ADS V4.1 intelligent driving system. Inside, the vehicle will be among the first globally to utilise the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 chip.
It’s worth noting that according to the filing information, the Freelander 8 has a curb weight of 2,980 kg and a gross weight of 3,495 kg – just five kilograms shy of 3.5 tons. This is intended to be a global model, so in Europe, you won’t need a truck license to drive it.
In China, over the past 12 months, the Land Rover brand has sold roughly 1,000 vehicles per month on average. The highest sales occurred in May 2025 with 1,297 units sold, while the lowest was in September of the same year, with only 573 units sold.
