Chery and Jaguar Land Rover unveiled the Freelander 97 concept in Shanghai on May 15, 2025—a fully electric premium crossover targeting Chinese buyers who want Land Rover heritage with Chinese-scale manufacturing and battery technology.

This joint venture is betting on 800-volt architecture and premium off-road capability wrapped in Huawei-powered autonomy hardware. Chery handles production, Land Rover leads design, CATL supplies battery cells, and Huawei provides ADS 4.1 lidar and driver-assistance systems. It's a China-first product, but the tech roadmap—800 V fast charging, intelligent all-wheel drive, and lidar autonomy—previews what premium EVs will carry globally by 2028.

Design work involved teams in both Shanghai and the United Kingdom. Rear doors swing opposite-direction (suicide-style), three rows of seats, and a widescreen cockpit that echoes the Rivian R1S and Mercedes EQS SUV. It's a show-floor statement, not a production spec—yet. Final production specs arrive in June 2025.

If this lands stateside, here's what to expect:

• MSRP: Not disclosed; comparable premium EV crossovers (Rivian R1S, BMW iX, Genesis GV70 Electrified) start at $68,000–$92,000 before destination.
• EPA range: Not applicable to concept; expect 280–320 miles real-world once battery size is confirmed (likely 95–110 kWh pack).
• Insurance: Average full-coverage for a premium EV runs $2,840/year nationally (2025 data)—add 15 % in Miami or Detroit.
• Federal tax credit: Eligibility pending final battery assembly location; CATL cells likely disqualify it under current IRA rules unless JLR shifts final assembly.
• 5-year depreciation: No data for concept; luxury EV crossovers lose 38–52 % in five years, per Kelley Blue Book.
• Charging cost: At Electrify America's 350 kW peak rate ($0.56/kWh nationally), figure $45–$55 for 10–80 % if the pack is 95–110 kWh.

Freelander 97 remains a concept until production specs arrive in June, but its 800-V backbone, intelligent all-wheel-drive (i-ATS), and lidar-enabled ADS 4.1 autonomy are the same building blocks every premium EV will carry by 2028. If Chery and JLR decide to bring this stateside, it'll compete head-to-head with the Rivian R1S, BMW iX, and Genesis GV70 Electrified. Until then, buyers watch from the sidelines while China test-drives the future of luxury electric off-roaders.

For consumers tracking future options: this vehicle remains a concept with no launch confirmed outside China. But if it arrives with 300+ miles of range, lidar that works in Midwest snow, and a price under $75,000, expect your local Land Rover dealer to become a serious EV destination.