The reborn SUV chases 300,000 annual sales within five years. Half of those sales are meant to come from overseas markets. Six new Freelander models are planned across the next five years. The new Freelander 8 from Chery Jaguar Land Rover (CJLR) hasn’t reached its first customers yet, and the joint venture company is already talking about selling more than 300,000 vehicles a year within three to five years. If that figure is to be achieved, it’ll have to ensure the Freelander 8, and any subsequent models, will be world-beaters. Plenty of new Chinese brands are happy to sell at home, at least to begin with, but CJLR is already working to sell the Freelander 8 internationally. Of the 300,000 units it hopes to move each year, it wants half to come from overseas markets. Read: Freelanders Were Known For Cheap, Plasticky Interiors But Not Anymore Production of the rugged, boxy SUV began on July 30 at CJLR’s plant in Changshu. The company is targeting monthly sales of 5,000 to 8,000 units to start. Global Models Are Coming While recently speaking about the Freelander 8, company chief executive Wen Fei said it will specifically build left-hand drive models for China, global left-hand drive vehicles, European-spec models, and right-hand drive versions. He also revealed Freelander can make decisions independently of Chery and Jaguar Land Rover, so it doesn’t have to get approval from its parent companies as it looks to expand. As a starting point, the Freelander 8 seems to have plenty going for it. It comes with a 60.33 kWh CATL battery pack and a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine serving as a range extender. Final horsepower and torque figures haven’t been confirmed, but we know it includes dual-chamber air suspension, a front mechanical differential lock, a virtual center differential, and a limited-slip differential at the rear, so it has all the right stuff to be a solid off-roader, without being compromised on the road. Crucially, it’s just the beginning for Freelander. Over the next five years, the company plans to launch six new models, consisting of a mix of battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and range extenders.
