FREELANDER Unveils Five-Seat FREELANDER 8, AI Voice Assistant and UAE Launch Plans

FREELANDER has unveiled the international five-seat version of its FREELANDER 8 SUV, announced a new AI Voice Assistant and confirmed plans to launch the vehicle in the UAE in the first quarter of 2027.

The announcements were made at FREELANDER Nightfall, held on October 19 at the Hengli Hotel in Wuhu, China, as part of the 2026 Chery International User Summit. The event also saw the brand sign partnership agreements with EK Kanoo Group in Bahrain and Saud Bahwan Group in Oman, expanding its regional dealer network.

FREELANDER 8 Debuts in Five-Seat Configuration

The international five-seat version of FREELANDER 8 made its first public appearance alongside the six-seat model, offering customers a choice between two-row and three-row seating configurations.

Phil Simmons, Executive Vice President of the FREELANDER Design Hub, shared the design philosophy behind the SUV. Simmons was part of the team responsible for the original Freelander, launched in 1997.

He highlighted three defining design elements: the Castle-Style Body Design, Yacht-Style Waistline, and Iconic Triangle Window, which incorporates the letters F and L into its shape.

“You can see the family look: simple surfaces, soft lines, a friendly face. FREELANDER 8 keeps that spirit, but it is bigger, more modern and more premium,” Simmons said.

The unveiling followed the first test drive of the international variant earlier on October 19 at Tuju Campground. Guests at the evening event were welcomed by Mornine, an embodied AI humanoid robot developed by Chery International's AiMOGA brand.

New AI Voice Assistant to Enhance In-Car Experience

FREELANDER International CEO Lucia Mao announced an AI Voice Assistant powered by a large language model and developed specifically for the brand.

The assistant is designed to enable more natural conversations and improve the vehicle's ability to understand users, building on the intelligent cockpit technology featured in FREELANDER 8.

The SUV's cockpit is powered by the Qualcomm SA8295P automotive-grade chip and features a 46.3-inch Mini LED far-side screen. The vehicle also comes with L2+ driver assistance as standard, according to the company.

Another technology feature is Super Intelligent Valet Parking (SIVP), which is designed to simplify parking through automated assistance.

The announcement reflects FREELANDER's focus on combining premium vehicle design with intelligent technology and driver-support features.

UAE Launch Expected in First Quarter of 2027

FREELANDER outlined a three-phase international expansion strategy, beginning with the UAE before extending into other markets.

The first phase will focus on the UAE, the wider Middle East and international left-hand-drive markets. The second phase will target right-hand-drive markets, prioritising Australia and New Zealand. The third phase will cover continental Europe, followed by the United Kingdom and Ireland.

FREELANDER 8 is expected to launch in the UAE in the first quarter of 2027. The company said it will provide further information on the SUV's specifications, pricing, space, safety and after-sales service closer to the launch.

“For me, bringing FREELANDER to the world means more than entering new markets. It means earning the trust of our customers, every day. That takes a great product, strong local partners and service people can rely on,” Mao said.

FREELANDER Signs Dealer Partnerships in Bahrain and Oman

FREELANDER Nightfall also featured the signing of two new regional partnership agreements, with EK Kanoo Group appointed as a partner in Bahrain and Saud Bahwan Group in Oman.

Tim Zhang, General Manager of the Middle East Region at Chery International, signed the agreements on behalf of FREELANDER, with Mao witnessing the ceremony.

Talal Fuad Ebrahim Kanoo, Managing Director of EK Kanoo Group, signed for the Bahrain partner, while Abdullah Mohammed Saud Bahwan, CEO of Saud Bahwan Group, signed for the Oman partner.

The agreements expand the brand's regional network, which already includes Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors as its official dealer partners in the UAE.

Brand Builds on Heritage Through Intelligent Innovation

FREELANDER's participation in the 2026 Chery International User Summit will continue with test drives on an obstacle course and a paved test course on October 21.

The programme is intended to demonstrate FREELANDER 8's combination of design heritage, intelligent technologies and all-terrain capability.

Under the slogan “Beyond the Legend,” the brand aims to build on the legacy of the original Freelander while introducing updated design and technology for international markets.

With the five-seat model's debut, the AI Voice Assistant announcement and new Middle East partnerships, FREELANDER is preparing for its planned UAE launch and a phased expansion into additional global markets.