Land Rover Freelander, which was gradually discontinued in 2014, made a high-profile “revival” in Suzhou in late March—not as a vehicle model, but as an all-new new energy vehicle brand after 12 years of inactivity. Its storefront prominently displays three major Chinese tech partners: Huawei Qiankun, CATL, and Qualcomm. Land Rover Freelander Positioned as a global luxury new energy technology brand, Freelander operates under a “Joint Venture 2.0” model: Land Rover handles design, chassis tuning, all-terrain technology and premium brand positioning; Chery provides the E0X pure electric platform and takes charge of R&D and manufacturing. The brand will feature 800V high-voltage architecture, Huawei ADS intelligent driving, CATL 5C fast-charging batteries, and Qualcomm cockpit chips. Interior Its first model is a large six seat SUV over 5.1 meters long, retaining Land Rover’s iconic boxy, rugged styling. It carries a roof-mounted LiDAR (reportedly 192-line, with high trims likely upgrading to 896-line), a large central screen, and an armrest fridge. Standard equipment includes air suspension, L2 ADAS, and 800V fast charging. Multiple powertrains will be offered: pure electric, plug in hybrid (1.5T/2.0T dedicated hybrid engine + 3 speed DHT), and EREV (1.5T range extender). The core logic of Joint Venture 2.0 has shifted from foreign brands providing technology and Chinese firms assembling to Chinese EV platforms + foreign brand DNA and luxury positioning. Similar models have been adopted by Renault, Stellantis, Toyota, Mercedes Benz and others. Jaguar Land Rover’s China sales slumped from 146,000 units in 2017 to fewer than 30,000 in 2025, creating an urgent need to catch up in electrification and intelligence. The biggest test is deep technological integration, not just component stacking. As a reference, the AUDI E5 Sportback (co-developed by Audi and SAIC) has seen weak sales: peak monthly deliveries of 1,856 units and only 303 units this February. The AUDI E5 Sportback To succeed, Freelander must avoid being a “rebadged Chery”. It must deliver true Land Rover driving and off road character, plus top tier Chinese EV and smart tech, at a price acceptable to Chinese consumers. The Freelander brand will officially launch in Shanghai on March 31, when the market will judge whether customers still accept its luxury and authentic Land Rover identity. Invitation