Good luck to Lucid Motors, the luxury electric vehicle manufacturer, who is already experiencing quality woes right out of the gate. These issues have pushed back the release of their eagerly awaited Gravity SUV. On this, the company has been responsive to the well-documented supply chain disruption. These problems, particularly with the vehicle’s heads-up display, have delayed the release significantly. Lucid didn’t begin Gravity SUV deliveries until late 2025. Of those first shipments, the only people who could get them were company employees and their friends and family.
With a base price of $94,000, the Gravity SUV has a stunning range of 450 miles on a full charge. Lucid just recently started delivering cars to everyday consumers. The company is far from out of the woods. With total losses now over $13 billion, it underscores the financial struggles Lucid will continue to face as it operates in a highly competitive EV market.
Gravity’s maiden flight was initially scheduled for 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic brought on enough disruptions that the release was pushed back a full year. With these pressures in mind, Evergrow’s interim CEO Marc Winterhoff has highlighted their prioritization of quality over rapid production.
“We’d rather push it out a few days or weeks, rather than putting a half-baked product in front of the customer.” – Marc Winterhoff
Beyond regulation, Winterhoff stressed the need to address technical issues with the software and heads-up display. Overcoming these challenges has been key for a successful launch.
“It is true that we had some technical issues that we had to overcome around software,” he stated.
Despite these troubles, Lucid hopes the best is yet to come. The corporation’s liquidity is sufficient to continue operating without interruption through the middle of 2026. It’s looking for new ways, more creative ways, to deal with the constantly changing economic environment. This has meant assessing the impact of possible vehicle price increases, working to reduce tariff exposure, and wading through shifts to its supply chain.
Beyond manufacturing facility, Lucid is taking big steps toward overall manufacturing capabilities. The startup has recently rented out the old Nikola plant in Coolidge, Arizona. They are looking at collaborative manufacturing partnerships with a number of other partners as well. This shift is indicative of their broader efforts to improve efficiency in production and overcome supply chain issues.
Lucid recently made headlines with their thrilling contract signed with Aston Martin. They suggested possible partnerships with a number of Level 4-focused software and mobility firms that would fortify their technological edge in the electric vehicle sweepstakes.
“The president and the administration want to have a strong manufacturing sector in the U.S., and we are looking at potential ways we can leverage our assets.” – Marc Winterhoff
Now, looking ahead, Lucid is preparing to produce vehicles on a more cost-effective, mid-sized platform. They intend to roll this new slate out in late 2026. This strategic pivot aims to appeal to a broader market segment while addressing the disappointing sales figures of its Air sedan, which have not met Wall Street’s expectations.
Winterhoff agreed that it was tricky to work through the first stages of rolling out a brand new vehicle.
“There have been some hiccups. To be quite frank, I think this is absolutely normal in the beginning of launching a vehicle.” – Marc Winterhoff
While Lucid Motors continues to face these challenges, it hasn’t shied away from its pledge of producing only the finest electric vehicles, with the highest level of consumer satisfaction. The battery maker’s story is a microcosm of the promise and pitfalls in the fast changing automotive landscape.
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