Lucid Motors CEO, Peter Rawlinson, who previously served as an engineer at Tesla, shared insights into the company's forthcoming plans during an interview. He specifically targeted Tesla's stronghold on the EV market, revealing plans to introduce rivals for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.
Rawlinson has a deep connection to Tesla, having been instrumental in the development of Tesla's first fully in-house production car, the Model S. Leveraging his extensive experience, he aims to guide Lucid in releasing models to compete directly with Tesla's successful lineup.
Lucid, which recently secured a lucrative supply deal with Aston Martin and witnessed the success of its first car, the Lucid Air, is planning to expand its own product range. The first vehicle in this expansion plan is the Gravity SUV, due for release next year, and will be followed by new models designed to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, priced at around $48,000 to $50,000.
Beyond vehicle production, Rawlinson discussed Lucid's vision to become an 'intel inside' for the automotive industry, by licensing their EV tech to other manufacturers. This strategy could also indirectly challenge Tesla's market position, as it could accelerate the global adoption of EVs by providing advanced tech to a wider range of manufacturers.
Lucid's technology, recognized for its compact design, efficient battery usage, and power, is already in use in the Lucid Air and in all Formula E cars. Such efficiency could provide a significant edge in their planned face-off with Tesla.
In terms of mass-market EVs, Rawlinson shared a bold vision of improving efficiency to achieve 6 miles per kilowatt-hour, enabling the creation of smaller battery packs, reducing EV costs, and potentially enabling the production of a $25,000 EV. While Lucid does not intend to manufacture such a vehicle, they could provide the enabling technology, potentially opening a new front in their competition with Tesla.
In summary, Lucid Motors, under the leadership of the ex-Tesla engineer Rawlinson, is preparing to mount a significant challenge to Tesla with its forthcoming models and innovative EV technology.