Lucid Motors CEO Peter Rawlinson is eager to expand the electric vehicle company to new markets and new segments, with right-hand drive vehicles and rivals for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y on its wish list.
“It’s a matter of engineering priorities. We are slammed – we’ve got to get Sapphire out this year.. we’ve got to get Gravity out next year,” Mr Rawlinson told Auto Express of the prospect of right-hand drive Lucid models.
“It breaks my heart, maybe we can outsource [a] right-hand drive project to an engineering company to do it for us.
“The potential market in the UK is probably bigger than even Germany in terms of a latent desire to go EV.”
Lucid also has plans to develop Tesla Model 3 and Model Y rivals that Mr Rawlinson expects to be priced around US$50,000 (AU$74,700).
“After Gravity we’re going to do [Tesla] Model 3 and Model Y competitors. We think around $50,000, maybe $48,000 – something like that. It’s too early to say, but that’s the vision,” Mr Rawlinson said.
The brand currently delivers left-hand drive Lucid Air sedans to the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, with the three-row Gravity SUV set to join it next year.
Although some markets might not see Lucid vehicles for some time, the company has recently signed a deal with Aston Martin which will give its drivers the opportunity to experience Lucid’s tech.
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Lucid drivetrain
The US-based startup will supply Aston Martin with its “current and future powertrain and battery technology”.
Mr Rawlinson told Auto Express that it plans to licence its technology to create a “multiplier effect” in the electric vehicle market, rather than working on a circa-US$25,000 (A$37,376) EV of its own.
“There are only so many cars Lucid could make, but suddenly it’s like 20 times more,” Mr Rawlinson told Auto Express.
“It’s like a software licensing, it’s like you just flash out software and your hardware doesn’t work without a software flash from us and you have to pay us X amount per car for that flash.
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Lucid Gravity
“There’s a great example in Intel. There’s an Intel inside logo on many computers and it’d be lovely to see ‘Lucid Inside’ on cars, too.”
Lucid is preparing the launch of the tri-motor Sapphire version of its Air sedan next year, capable of doing the 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint in just 1.89 seconds.
Also due next year is the company’s first SUV, called the Gravity.
In 2022 Lucid produced 7180 vehicles and generated just over US$608 million (AU$908 million) in revenue.
