Land Rover's China-Market 'Freelander' Is The Rivian R2 You Can't Have

"The Freelander brand is a joint venture between Land Rover and China's Chery. This isn't uncharted waters between the two entities, since Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chery are already a joint venture that has been producing Jaguar, Land Rover, and Range Rover primarily for the Chinese since 2012."

"Officially, the first model the brand revealed is called the Concept 97, which is an homage to the year the original Freelander was released: 1997. From what we can see, it marries a Land Rover Defender-style front fascia with silver accents."

"Even in an era of smooth, streamlined crossovers, the market for boxy vehicles with a rough-and-tumble attitude remains strong. Just look at some of the models that have made the biggest splashes on the car market in recent memory, like the Ford Bronco."

Freelander is a joint venture brand between Jaguar Land Rover and China's Chery Automobile, introducing the Concept 97 SUV. This model commemorates the original Freelander's 1997 release. It features an 800-volt architecture, though specific battery and power details are not disclosed. The Freelander aims to combine off-road capability with a less ostentatious design compared to typical Land Rover models. This collaboration marks a deeper partnership between JLR and Chery, which has been producing Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles for the Chinese market since 2012.

Read at insideevs.com