Lucid is a Newark, California-based luxury electric vehicle company with a commitment to sustainability. Born out of California-influenced design and Silicon Valley-based innovation, Lucid has grown to become a global EV producer.
In 2018, Lucid received a $1 Billion investment from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. Ayar Third Investment Company, an affiliate of the Public Investment Fund, is the majority stockholder in Lucid.
Lucid went public in a 2021 merger with Churchill Capital Corp IV at a combined transaction equity value of $11.75 billion. This transaction helped finance production facilities and led to Lucid debuting on the Nasdaq as “LCID”.
The company is led by CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson who hails from Tesla where he served as VP of Vehicle Engineering. While at Tesla, Rawlinson led the engineering of the Model S from start to finish. Under Rawlinson’s leadership, Lucid launched their first model, the Air, which achieved the record for the longest driving range of an EV.
Lucid vehicles are produced at two facilities. The first is the Lucid Motors Factory located between Phoenix and Tucson in Casa Grande, Arizona. While other EVs are produced at factories originally intended for building internal combustion engine vehicles, Lucid’s 500-acre property is the first purpose-built EV factory in North America. The facility is designed for an initial production capacity of 10,000 vehicles annually with a vision to increase production to 300,000 cars per year.
The second Lucid factory is in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Saudi Arabia. Currently, Lucid sells vehicles in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.
Although currently a single-model car company, Lucid offers four different variants of the Air. The entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive Air Pure features 430 hp, a range of 410 miles, a retractable Pilot Panel infotainment screen, a 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display, and 12-way power front seats. Starting at $69,900, the Air Pure launches from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. At 195.9 inches long with a 116.5-inch wheelbase, the Pure is one of the largest EVs available under $70k.
The next step up in the Air lineup is the Touring which adds a second motor for all-wheel drive capability. With an output of 620 hp, the Touring reaches 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The Touring features many of the same standard features as the Pure, such as three-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power trunk. Starting at $77,900, the price premium is due to the increased power and additional motor. However, the price can jump a bit higher as the Touring can be configured with more optional equipment than the Pure.
With the Grand Touring, the Air achieves an estimated 516 miles of range when properly configured. Priced from $109,900, the Grand Touring also adds 819 hp, a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds, and a faster-charging extended-range battery. Additional equipment includes soft-close doors, four-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power open/close trunk and frunk.
The flagship Air model is the Sapphire which adds a third motor, produces 1,234 hp, sprints to 60 mph in an astonishing 1.89 seconds, and has an estimated range of 427 miles. In addition to adding advanced driver assistance features, drive modes, and carbon-ceramic brakes, the $249,000 Sapphire also boasts 18-way power front sport seats with ventilation and massage.
Competitors for the Lucid Air include the BMW i5 and i7, the Mercedes EQE and EQS, the Telsa Model S, and the Porsche Taycan.
Lucid’s next model is the upcoming 2025 Gravity, a three-row luxury electric SUV. The marque’s second model is expected to start under $80,000 and accelerate to 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds. The sleekly designed Gravity has a 0.24 drag coefficient. Similar to the Air, the Gravity will include the 34-inch glass panel display screen. The Gravity leverages Lucid’s 900-volt EV architecture to fast-charge up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes. Lucid estimates a 440-mile driving range for the Gravity.
The Gravity marries SUV practicality with the Air’s performance capabilities. Similarly long and wide as a Honda Pilot, the Gravity can carry up to seven occupants or haul up to 112 cubic feet of cargo. Lucid claims the Gravity has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000-pounds and a payload capacity of 1,500-pounds. The Gravity will compete with the more truck-centric Rivian R1S, the Tesla Model X, the Volvo EX90, and more in the growing three-row EV SUV segment.
Despite only having launched a single model thus far, Lucid is off to a revolutionary start. With many variations of the Air and an upcoming entry in the new three-row SUV EV segment, it’ll be interesting to see what the brand has in store for the future.
Matt Yantakosol is a lifelong automotive enthusiast and former consultant focused on the consumer aspect of the industry. He has traveled to New York, Detroit, Chicago, L.A., Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, and Tokyo Auto Shows to track and observe the newest industry innovations. In addition to JDPower.com, Matt's writing has appeared on Pcarmarket.com.
Chrysler, the company that launched the modern minivan segment in 1984, is giving its popular 2027 Chrysler Pacifica a nose job and introducing a special edition commemorating America’s 250th ...See More
Read the Full Article
An all-new GMC Sierra 1500 debuts for the 2027 model year, featuring next-generation V8 engines, a premium interior with wide digital displays, and class-exclusive luxury and technology features on ...See More
Read the Full Article
With the 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee, Ram aims to revive the domestic muscle truck segment by offering a trio of Hemi V8 engines, including the 777-horsepower Rumble Bee SRT.
Read the Full Article
The redesigned 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 marks the next generation of Chevy’s iconic full-size pickup, introducing fresh styling, an upgraded interior, new technology, and revised V8 engines ...See More
Read the Full Article