Lucid Motors said on Tuesday that the Sapphire version of its debut sedan, the Air, has been named the ‘2026 German Performance Car of the Year’ at the German Car of the Year (GCOTY) Awards.
In Germany, the luxury variant is priced at €250,000 ($289,000) fully equipped, with business leasing options starting from €2,900 per month including VAT.
The high-performance trim accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under two seconds and reaches a top speed of 330 km/h.
Powered by three in-house electric motors, it delivers 1,251 PS, offers a WLTP-certified range of 694 kilometers on a single charge, and consumes 19.1 kWh per 100 kilometers.
“With three state-of-the-art electric motors – all developed and manufactured in-house by Lucid – Lucid Air Sapphire reaches an entirely new level of performance,” said Erich Bach, Lucid’s chief engineer and senior vice president of product.
The ‘Performance’ category of the GCOTY Awards covers all new sports cars, roadsters, and high-performance variants of existing models.
Winners are selected by a panel of 30 independent automotive journalists and experts.
The recognition comes as Lucid’s sales in the country — Europe’s largest car market — remain minimal.
The California-based EV maker sold five units of the Air in September, according to official registration data released earlier this month.
That marked an 87.8% drop from 41 vehicles a year earlier.
Lucid delivered 35 cars in Germany during the first quarter of 2025, 38 in the second, and 68 between July and September.
The company began taking orders last month for its second model, the three-row Gravity SUV. Deliveries for the three-row SUV in Europe are planned to begin in the first days of 2026.
To counter weaker-than-expected demand in the Old Continent, Lucid is shifting to a mixed retail model that combines direct sales with dealership partnerships.
It also recently launched a certified used-car program offering 0% financing, warranty coverage, and roadside assistance.
Among the vehicles listed under the program is a 2023 Lucid Air Pure with 4,711 kilometers, priced at €83,470 ($97,970) or available from €799 ($938) per month with 0% financing.
Lawrence Hamilton, Lucid’s managing director for Europe, told Automobilwoche that the brand aims to be represented in 12 to 15 German cities initially, with plans to expand its partner network to 50–60 locations.
The goal, he said, is to give established dealerships “the opportunity to develop further” by adding Lucid to their portfolios.
