Lucid Group on Wednesday introduced the groundbreaking for its second manufacturing stage at its meeting plant in Casa Grande, Arizona—setting the stage for ramping up manufacturing of the Gravity electrical SUV later this 12 months.
Whereas the second manufacturing stage will assist permit increased manufacturing ranges of its Gravity, in addition to the Air electrical sedan, it additionally teased what that second stage will assist allow sooner or later—a considerably smaller electrical SUV, seemingly in regards to the dimension of the Tesla Mannequin Y, known as “Mission Midsize,” proven in a presentation on the manufacturing unit occasion.
That is the Lucid ‘Mission Midsize’, the third #EV @LucidMotors expects to launch … after the Gravity SUV, for which deliveries are to start late this 12 months.
Per CEO Peter Rawlinson, engineering prototypes exist already. It’s going to be Lucid’s Mannequin Y, when you like. No timing mentioned. pic.twitter.com/D6MsGa99O2
— John ‘legacy blue test’ Voelcker (@johnvoelcker) January 24, 2024
Goals to create lower-priced, midsize fashions has been steered in Lucid’s shareholder deck for a while, in addition to alluded to by CEO Peter Rawlinson.
And inside a number of years it would go hand-in-hand with Lucid’s growth. In accordance with Lucid, the three million-square-foot manufacturing facility and warehouse will convey a common meeting line, expanded physique and paint outlets, a logistics heart, cost-cutting vertically built-in stamping, and extra, in addition to an expanded powertrain facility.
Lucid Gravity
Final June, Lucid inked a provide settlement with Aston Martin that may pair its “leading edge powertrain know-how” with Mercedes’ digital structure in a new-future household of electrified fashions from the storied British model.
Lucid to this point has been a distinct segment producer and hasn’t ramped up manufacturing fairly as quickly because it initially steered. Earlier this month it confirmed that it had delivered 1,734 automobiles in This autumn of 2023, with a manufacturing of two,391 automobiles for the quarter. That quantities to a 2023 whole of 6,001 deliveries and eight,428 automobiles produced.
2023 Lucid Air Touring
The gradual takeoff seems probably associated to demand for its Air sedan, and in current months Lucid has lowered the value.
In the meantime, as Tesla on the identical day touted, the Mannequin Y is the bestselling car on the planet—sedan or SUV, electrical or gasoline. The dimensions and value of the Mannequin Y, well-suited to markets world wide, have arguably been as a lot of a key to the Y’s success because the Tesla badge.
If Lucid can ship its Tesla-beating effectivity and vary to a Mannequin Y–sized car, it could nearly actually be a compelling if not game-changing car. However with no timeline offered as of but, merely keep tuned.