Chery and JLR have launched their new joint venture originally announced in 2024, called Freelander. However, it’s not the former Land Rover Freelander that ended production in 2015, rather, a whole new brand based in China that will eventually offer a range of SUVs globally.

The model previewed is called the Concept 97 (1997 was the first year of production of the original Land Rover Freelander) and it’s a three-row electric or hybrid large SUV. Styled by the brand’s new design studio in Shanghai, overseen by former head of JLR design Gerry McGovern, the Freelander 97 concept shows the clear influence of Land Rover products and echoes the original Freelander.

For example, the shoulder line has been influenced by the original Freelander, and ditto the triangular window behind the C-pillar and triangular design touches all over the car. The interior of the Concept 97 is clearly influenced by JLR’s current designs, though with a huge wrap-around landscape screen sitting at the bottom of the windscreen that will likely reach production.

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Using a six-seat three-row layout, the rear bench in the Concept 97 looks like a couch. Second-row passengers will enjoy a large drop-down screen, and the 97 features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8397 chip and Huawei’s latest intelligent ADAS system.

The interior adopts a three-row six-seater configuration, with a rear bench that looks like a couch. A pillar-to-pillar display is mounted on the base of the windshield, joined by a large infotainment touchscreen. We can also see a pair of rotating dials and physical buttons on the steering wheel, alongside traditional stalks.

When production starts from later this year, the real version of the Concept 97 will use the same 800V platform as next-generation Chery products like the Tiggo 9, and will be offered in fully electric and plug-in hybrid forms with the latter likely the next-generation of Chery’s ‘Super Hybrid’ system.

After it debuts, Freelander reportedly has another five production models of differing sizes waiting in the wings and will launch a new model every six months. China is the first market Freelander will launch in, with an expansion into many global markets planned for afterwards.

Australian plans are not yet known, but considering how big Chery is locally and that its products will likely be made in right-hand drive for JLR’s UK home market, we’re expecting a local launch at some stage over the next few years.