États-Unis
Lucid
Lucid is an American automaker specializing in luxury electric vehicles, with its headquarters in Newark, California. The company was founded in 2007 under the name Atieva by Bernard Tse, a former vice-president and board member of Tesla, alongside Sam Weng (a former Oracle executive) and Sheaupyng Lin. In its early days, Atieva did not build cars: it designed and supplied high-performance battery packs and powertrains for other manufacturers. This expertise notably earned it an exclusive battery supply contract for the Formula E racing championship. The shift toward building complete vehicles began in 2013 with the arrival of Peter Rawlinson, former chief engineer of the Tesla Model S, who became chief technology officer and then chief executive officer. In 2016, the company rebranded itself as Lucid Motors and refocused its mission on building luxury electric sedans. The first production car, the Lucid Air, was unveiled and then launched into production in September 2021 at the Casa Grande plant in Arizona. In terms of ownership, Lucid is largely financed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which became its majority shareholder. The company went public in 2021 through a merger with the acquisition company Churchill Capital Corp IV, and trades under the ticker LCID. The group is now known as Lucid Group. In North America, Lucid designs, assembles and sells its vehicles in the United States and Canada, with its Arizona plant serving as the company's industrial heart. After the Air sedan, Lucid expanded its lineup with the Gravity electric SUV, delivered starting in late 2024, and is working on more affordable mid-segment models to broaden its market.
ActiveLuxePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireAméricaines
History
History of Lucid
Lucid is an American automaker specializing in luxury electric vehicles, with its headquarters in Newark, California. The company was founded in 2007 under the name Atieva by Bernard Tse, a former vice-president and board member of Tesla, alongside Sam Weng (a former Oracle executive) and Sheaupyng Lin. In its early days, Atieva did not build cars: it designed and supplied high-performance battery packs and powertrains for other manufacturers. This expertise notably earned it an exclusive battery supply contract for the Formula E racing championship. The shift toward building complete vehicles began in 2013 with the arrival of Peter Rawlinson, former chief engineer of the Tesla Model S, who became chief technology officer and then chief executive officer. In 2016, the company rebranded itself as Lucid Motors and refocused its mission on building luxury electric sedans. The first production car, the Lucid Air, was unveiled and then launched into production in September 2021 at the Casa Grande plant in Arizona. In terms of ownership, Lucid is largely financed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which became its majority shareholder. The company went public in 2021 through a merger with the acquisition company Churchill Capital Corp IV, and trades under the ticker LCID. The group is now known as Lucid Group. In North America, Lucid designs, assembles and sells its vehicles in the United States and Canada, with its Arizona plant serving as the company's industrial heart. After the Air sedan, Lucid expanded its lineup with the Gravity electric SUV, delivered starting in late 2024, and is working on more affordable mid-segment models to broaden its market.
Public founding or origin of Lucid.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Lucid stands out with a high-voltage electrical architecture of more than 900 volts, which is more efficient because higher voltage reduces current and therefore heat losses. The onboard Wunderbox charging unit allows for very fast charging. Its permanent-magnet electric motors, among the most compact and power-dense on the market, exceed 650 hp per drive unit; in a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration, the Air reaches up to 1,111 hp in its most powerful version. The brand claims remarkable energy efficiency, targeting around 5 mi/kWh compared with an industry average of about 3 mi/kWh. The DreamDrive driver-assistance suite integrates up to 32 sensors, including cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors and a lidar. The Gravity SUV adopts high-density Panasonic cylindrical cells and the NACS port with bidirectional charging.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
An American manufacturer of luxury electric vehicles betting on range, efficiency and cutting-edge performance.
Reputation
Lucid enjoys a very favorable reputation for the driving quality, range and efficiency of its vehicles, often described as among the best electric sedans on the market. Owner satisfaction is high. Reliability, however, remains a weak point: Consumer Reports ranks the Air below average, mainly because of software bugs and assembly imperfections at delivery rather than serious breakdowns; the powertrain and batteries generally hold up well, even at high mileage. The service network, which is more limited than that of established luxury brands, and the rapid depreciation of the early models are also worth watching.
Strengths
Lucid's strengths lie in its cutting-edge electrical engineering: best-in-class range, superior energy efficiency, ultra-fast charging thanks to the 900-volt architecture and exceptional motor power. The cabin is spacious and refined, and the ride quality and quietness of operation are praised. Owner satisfaction remains high despite the irritants, and the brand continually innovates on the energy density of its batteries.
Points to watch
The points to watch concern mainly perceived reliability: recurring software bugs, build-quality imperfections at delivery and updates that are sometimes finicky. The service and body-shop network remains limited compared with established luxury brands, which can lengthen repair times. Depreciation of the early models has been rapid, and purchase prices high, although bargains are appearing on the used market.
Models
Lucid models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Lucid's industrial heart in North America is the AMP-1 (Advanced Manufacturing Plant) factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, the first automobile plant built from the ground up in that state. This is where the Air sedan and the Gravity SUV are assembled, and the site has undergone an expansion to increase its capacity and accommodate future models. Lucid also operates a second plant, AMP-2, in King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia, the country's first automobile factory; it began with the reassembly of vehicles from prefabricated kits made in Arizona, with the goal of eventually producing complete vehicles there. For the North American market, production remains centered on Arizona.
Tires and wheels
Lucid vehicles ride on large wheels: the Air sedan typically offers 19-, 20- and 21-inch diameters, often in a staggered setup (narrower front tires than the rear), with a common 5x120 mm bolt pattern. The Gravity SUV fits even larger wheels, up to 22 or 23 inches. In Quebec, where winter tires are mandatory, a second set mounted on smaller-diameter wheels is often a smart choice to preserve range, improve grip and reduce the cost of winter tires. Always verify the exact dimensions, bolt pattern, center bore and load index specific to your version before any purchase.