Lucid exhibiting a preproduction model of the Gravity, a luxurious electrical SUV, testing on US public roads. The Gravity is anticipated to start delivery in 2024.
Courtesy: Lucid
Luxurious electric-vehicle maker Lucid Group mentioned Tuesday that it has begun testing its subsequent mannequin, a big SUV referred to as Gravity, on public roads within the U.S., a key milestone forward of the Gravity’s anticipated launch subsequent yr.
Lucid hasn’t but totally revealed the Gravity in production-spec trim. However the firm has mentioned that the Gravity could have seating for as much as seven folks, with “the driving dynamics of a sports activities automotive.” The inside will function new high-resolution shows powered by a brand new technology of Lucid’s proprietary software program working system, Lucid mentioned on Tuesday.
The Gravity is a vital product for Lucid. Whereas Lucid’s first automobile, the Air sedan, has impressed reviewers and gained a number of necessary {industry} awards, demand for the high-priced EV seems to have fallen well short of Lucid’s internal expectations.
Shares have fallen about 30% since Lucid mentioned in February that it expects to construct just 10,000 to 14,000 Airs in 2023, versus the 27,000 that Wall Road had anticipated. The inventory was hit once more in March, when Lucid cut 18% of its workforce, about 1,300 workers.
CEO Peter Rawlinson mentioned in an announcement that improvement of the Gravity is driving additional developments of Lucid’s in-house software program and battery know-how.
“The Lucid Air redefined the sedan class, and as our know-how continues to evolve and lead the market, we’re in a spot the place the Gravity is positioned to alter the world of SUVs,” Rawlinson mentioned.
A preproduction model of the Lucid Gravity, a luxurious electrical SUV, seen from the rear. The Gravity is anticipated to start delivery in 2024.
Courtesy: Lucid
Lucid has promised that the Gravity could have higher electrical vary than any SUV at the moment in the marketplace. The brand new automobile will incorporate the superior batteries and charging methods developed by Lucid for its Air sedan, and is anticipated to debut with vary near the Air’s industry-leading 516 EPA-estimated miles in prime trim.
The Gravity’s possible electrical luxurious SUV rivals – Rivian‘s R1S, Tesla‘s Mannequin X, and the BMW iX – have most EPA-estimated ranges of 390 miles, 333 miles and 324 miles, respectively.
Lucid had initially deliberate to launch the Gravity later this yr. However in February 2022, after starting manufacturing of the Air, Rawlinson mentioned Lucid would delay the Gravity until 2024 to refine the design and incorporate classes discovered from the Air’s launch. The Gravity can be constructed alongside the Air at Lucid’s manufacturing unit in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Lucid confirmed that it expects to start deliveries of the Gravity subsequent yr. The automobile was initially slated for the primary half of 2024, however that timeline has since been adjusted.