Freelander sets 300,000 unit annual ambition ahead of Freelander 8 pre-sales on August 10

Freelander, the new-energy vehicle brand established by Chery Jaguar Land Rover, has set a mid-term target of selling more than 300,000 vehicles annually within three to five years, as it prepares to open pre-sales for the Freelander 8, its first production model, on August 10.

According to comments by Freelander Global CEO Wen Fei reported by Daily Economic News, the objective is evenly divided between China and overseas markets, with annual targets of 150,000 units each. The figures represent company targets rather than projected or achieved sales.

Freelander 8 becomes first production model

The sales objective follows the start of mass production for the Freelander 8 after the first vehicle rolled off Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s Changshu production line on July 30.

Wen said the model is expected to establish the brand’s initial sales base, with a monthly target of 5,000 to 8,000 units. He described 10,000 units per month as a stretch objective rather than a baseline expectation.

Freelander also plans to introduce six models over the next five years, covering extended-range electric, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric powertrains. According to the company, the future lineup will follow a “1+3” product strategy comprising China left-hand-drive, global left-hand-drive, European-specification and right-hand-drive variants.

Wen also said the brand has been granted independent decision-making authority from its shareholders, Chery and Jaguar Land Rover. The company has not disclosed the legal scope of that arrangement.

Changshu plant transitions to Freelander production

The production milestone comes as Chery Jaguar Land Rover continues restructuring its Changshu operations.

The plant, which opened in 2014 with an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles, previously manufactured Jaguar Land Rover models for the Chinese market. Production of locally built internal combustion engine vehicles ended after Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s annual sales fell to about 26,000 units in 2025.

China EV DataTracker data showed that Land Rover recorded 3,283 retail deliveries in China in June 2026, up from 997 in May.

The increase followed a large discount campaign for the China-made Range Rover Evoque L, with the model’s price reduced by 229,800 yuan (34,040 USD) in China. Previous reporting attributed the higher June deliveries to clearance pricing of remaining locally produced internal combustion engine models before the Changshu plant transitioned to Freelander production.

The June result indicates a short-term impact from inventory clearance and price reductions rather than a clear indication of sustained demand growth.

Global expansion plan takes shape

Regulatory filings show the Freelander 8 measures 5,118 mm in length and rides on a 3,040 mm wheelbase. The extended-range SUV combines a 60.33 kWh CATL battery with a 1.5-litre turbocharged range extender, providing a CLTC pure-electric driving range of 221 km.

The vehicle is also equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8397 cockpit processor and Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5 driver-assistance system using a 896-line LiDAR sensor.

Separately, Freelander said it plans to establish a presence in more than 90 countries over the next five years through a retail network of more than 1,100 locations.

The 300,000-unit figure remains the brand’s medium-term commercial target. The next milestone is the August 10 opening of pre-sales for the Freelander 8, which will provide the first market response to Freelander’s product strategy.