The Freelander name is making a surprising comeback, This time around, it’s electric. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is joining forces with Chinese car giant Chery to develop a brand new range of Freelander electric vehicles (EVs). This marks the return of the Freelander nameplate after a decade-long absence, and it’s specifically designed to conquer the booming Chinese electric car market.
The new Freelander’s will ditch petrol for electric power, catering to the growing demand for eco-friendly vehicles in China. JLR will leverage its long-standing partnership with Chery to create these new EVs. Chery will also provide the underlying electric vehicle architecture that will form the foundation of the Freelander range.
While the initial rollout will be exclusive to China through a dedicated network of dealerships, JLR hints at future global ambitions. This means we might see the electric Freelander on our roads someday
LR describes these new Freelander’s as “mainstream electric vehicles,” suggesting they might be more affordable compared to their current, pricier models. This could be a game-changer, making electric Land Rovers more accessible to a wider range of drivers. Though we have our own views on this, while based on second hand vehicles if the parts are still land rover priced the issue remains the same.
Production for the Freelander’s will take place at the existing Chery-JLR joint venture factory located in Changshu, China. There’s no official word on the release date yet. Considering development is just starting, it could take several years (possibly three or more) before we see these electric Freelander’s hit the road.
