The Lucid Motors Air electric sedan
Lucid Motors Targets Tesla with Arizona Plant
It’s one thing to blaze a trail like Elon Musk did. Getting the electric car into the mainstream automotive market is an impressive feat, but there’s a bullseye painted on Tesla’s back. First the Chevrolet Bolt takes a shot at the entry-level electric car market. And now, Lucid Motors has Tesla’s Model S in its sights.
Lucid has announced their intention to build a $700 million manufacturing facility in Casa Grande, Arizona. It will employ 2,000 people and will build high-end luxury electric sedans. Lucid is hoping the plant will be in operation by late 2018, but that’s assuming their finances are in order. Investors with huge amounts of capital are being sought out, but Lucid’s VP and Chief Technical Officer, Peter Rawlinson, says it’s worth it.
“I know firsthand that this is a capital-intensive business, and we will require a future round of investment. We believe we are imminently investable, with a product as compelling as we have, our ability to deliver and our business model,” Rawlinson said.
What’s Their Car?
Their mule is Edna, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that can outrun sportscars. But that’s not what their production model will be like…not at all.
Think of an Audi R8 sedan. That’s right, sexy and lean, hovering just inches off the ground. Yet when you climb inside, you’re embraced in the grip of a premium luxury sedan like the Audi A6. Then, when you push into the throttle, you’re behind the wheel of a supercar competitor, without the rumble massive displacement or the fuel cost of high-horsepower applications.
Lucid Motors’ production car will have 1,000 horsepower, capable of 0 to 60 times hovering around 2.6 seconds. It’s all-wheel drive, powered by a 400-hp front motor and 600-hp rear motor. Its range on a full electric charge is said to be 400 miles, longer than the Tesla Model S. The rear seat is designed with business-class in mind, not a family sedan, and the rear executive seating reclines.
The price of Lucid’s luxury electric sedan? Well above $100,000, according to Rawlinson. While not giving anything away, he says that future models are possible for a lower price, but it’s not likely to dip below $65,000. The forecast is approximately 10,000 units annually at first, ramping up to 60,000 over time.
Who Is Lucid Motors?
Take former top engineers from Mazda and Tesla, among nearly 300 other automotive professionals from the world’s top brands. Set them to work on an electric car design that can take down the biggest name in the biz. That’s Lucid Motors.
The company began in 2007 as an electric motor and battery producer named Atieva, largely for the Chinese market. They’ve turned their attention to building electric cars as a whole, mainly for the domestic North American industry. Just this year, Atieva rebranded as Lucid Motors.
Who Wins? We Do!
Consumers are set to reap the most rewards from the competition as electric car and alternative fuel developments race ahead. Clearly, Elon Musk and Tesla have their work cut out to stay at the front of the pack. With carmakers like Lucid Motors ramping up with viable products, Tesla risks being lost in the crowd.
