Tata Motors’ subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has signed a pact with China’s Chery Automobile Company to develop electric vehicles (EVs) in China.
This collaboration builds upon an existing partnership. In 2014, JLR and Chery established a 50:50 joint venture, Chery-JLR (CJLR), to manufacture vehicles in China. The Changshu plant, the first full-scale JLR facility outside the UK, has produced several popular models, including the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
The new agreement leverages CJLR’s existing infrastructure and expertise. JLR will license its Freelander brand, a Land Rover vehicle successfully produced from 1997 to 2015, for use in a new line of mainstream EVs. These Freelander EVs will initially be sold in China through a dedicated network, with the potential for future global export.
This deal reflects a mutually beneficial approach. Chery gains access to JLR’s design heritage and brand recognition, while JLR taps into China’s booming electric vehicle market with Chery’s advanced EV technology.
“This innovative collaboration model paves the way for our future growth,” said Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Group. “The combination of Chery’s EV technology and the Freelander brand will offer a unique electric vehicle experience for both China and global consumers.”
The news comes alongside JLR’s announcement to begin production of its Range Rover models in India. Local assembly will allow the company to take advantage of the duty structure and reduce the prices of certain models by about 18 to 22 per cent. The Range Rover 3.0-litre diesel HSE LWB will be priced at Rs 2.36 crore (down by Rs 44 lakh), and the Range Rover Sport 3.0-litre diesel Dynamic SE will be priced at Rs 1.40 crore (down by Rs 29 lakh) across pan India showrooms. This will result in a shorter waiting period for these models for Indian customers.
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