Lucid Motors has responded to a viral owner review that documented extensive software problems with the Lucid Air sedan, acknowledging shortcomings and outlining plans for a complete user experience overhaul by early fall.
The response came in a follow-up video published Friday by ‘Engineering Explained’, the automotive YouTube channel with over four million subscribers whose December review titled “Owning A Lucid Has Been Super Disappointing” has now accumulated 1.2 million views.
The new video, titled “Lucid Responded To My Critical Review,” garnered over half a million views and 3,600 comments within 24 hours of publication.
“I had a long, information-dense conversation with Lucid, and companies are usually very hesitant to share information about future products, but perhaps in this case they felt it would be beneficial,” channel host Jason Fenske said in the video.
Emad Dlala was promoted to Senior Vice President of Powertrain in February 2025 and to Senior Vice President, Engineering and Digital last November — amid Eric Bach’s departure.
“In addition to leading the powertrain organization, he will now oversee all product development functions, including vehicle engineering, digital systems, and software,” Lucid said back then.
Fenske said he was told by Emad Dallala, the Lucid executive now overseeing all product development including software: “I am excited to give you, as our very first Journalist Insider, a preview of the following significant upgrades.”
Lucid Acknowledges Problems
The California-based EV maker acknowledged its software has fallen short of expectations following an organizational restructuring announced approximately a month before Fenske’s original video was released.
Dallala, who previously led Lucid‘s powertrain division and holds a PhD from Finland, now oversees all product development including software — a change that signals the company’s recognition of its software challenges.
“It’s fair to say we’re not happy with where we’ve been, and we know we have to do better as well, and so we’re hard at work at that,” Lucid told Fenske, according to the video.
“Great. At this point, that’s really all you can ask for,” Fenske responded. “Admit there’s a problem, work on addressing it.”
The company has also launched a dedicated email address — [email protected] — for owners experiencing software issues.
“There’s a team behind this compiling the information to help guide and prioritize improvements,” Fenske said. “And Emad tells me he gets a summary of these emails every week.”
Problems Already Fixed
Lucid has already addressed several issues Fenske documented in his original review.
The company fixed a problem that prevented some vehicles, including Fenske’s, from properly loading over-the-air software updates. “They have now fixed that, and sure enough, my car can easily update anytime an update comes through now,” he said.
Lucid also issued a cloud update for plug-and-charge functionality. “The first time I tried using plug-and-charge at an Electrify America station, it didn’t work. I only tried it once, they said they implemented a fix, I went in and tried it again, it works,” Fenske reported.
A third fix addressed an issue where heated seats would activate unexpectedly when Fenske’s dog sat in the back seat. While some viewers suggested the dog was simply pressing the button, Lucid confirmed that was not the case.
The issue stemmed from an automatic climate control setting that activates heated seats when occupancy is detected — a feature that can now be disabled.
Hardware Explanations
Lucid provided context for several hardware issues Fenske experienced, though the explanations reveal ongoing engineering challenges.
The frunk that failed to open — an issue Fenske argued should have been caught at the factory — turns out to be “actually a common problem,” according to Lucid. The company attributed it to the vehicle’s unique front-end design and thermal dynamics.
“Basically, the car might actually leave the factory with everything working, and it could even arrive to the service center with everything working. But over time, everything eventually settles into its permanent place,” Fenske explained.
“For example, Lucids are built in Arizona, a very hot climate. Now I live in a much colder climate, and so that could cause a small shift in where these strikers sit versus where they latch,” he added.
“Lucid readily admits this is an engineering challenge they need to solve. They’re not saying this as an excuse, but just so that I understand why it happened,” he added.
The charging door that Fenske found difficult to open manually was never originally designed to function that way. “From the beginning, the intent was to either use the app or the button inside the car to open the charging door,” he said. The manual opening feature was added later using the door’s pinch-detection sensors. “So for that, I say better to at least have it than not have it at all, as it does work consistently if you push hard enough.”
For the Gravity SUV, Lucid eliminated the electronic charging door entirely. “It’s completely manual, so you don’t have to worry about the charge door being finicky,” Fenske noted.
Cup Holder Redesign
In a surprising acknowledgment, Lucid confirmed it will redesign the cup holders that Fenske documented as requiring nearly nine pounds of force to remove an empty can.
“To my surprise, all three Lucid employees on the call with me said, and I’m embellishing a little bit, but the cup holders suck!” Fenske recounted. “And also to my surprise, they’re changing the design.”
The new design removes the internal baffles and is expected to roll out in new vehicles in the first half of 2026. “They said they’ll likely offer a retrofit option for customers, and said they’d offer me an early version for feedback,” Fenske said.
Facial Recognition Fix
The facial recognition bar that gets blocked by the steering wheel for tall drivers — an issue affecting profile selection — will not change for Air models. However, Lucid has addressed it for the Gravity model.
“They have redesigned this for their second car, the Gravity, and it’s now steering wheel mounted. So it should always have a clear view of the driver for selecting profiles,” Fenske reported.
Software Improvements Planned
Beyond the issues already fixed, Lucid outlined an extensive list of software improvements in development.
The planned fixes include improving phone-as-key access controls, adjusting door handle behavior, enabling automatic mirror positioning during reversing, removing inconsistencies between percentage and miles displays, allowing users to prevent automatic locking at certain locations such as garages, and enabling plug-and-charge with Tesla Superchargers for Air customers.
“Alright, so that alone will address many of my complaints,” Fenske said.
The company has also already modified its voice command system in response to Fenske’s original video. Previously, when asked to open the glove box, the system would respond that it couldn’t perform the action and direct users to pull a handle — which doesn’t exist on the Lucid Air.
The updated response now provides accurate instructions: “To open the glove compartment, use the pilot panel and select menu symbol glove box. Close it by pushing the glove box cover until it latches.”
“Okay, a bit tedious, but look at that. I, Jason, have created change within the automotive world,” Fenske joked.
UX 3.0: Complete Overhaul
The most significant announcement was Lucid‘s plan to release UX 3.0, described as “a complete overhaul of their user experience software,” by early fall 2026.
The update will be available to customers who purchased or leased their vehicles after April 2024. Owners of older vehicles can access the update by upgrading their infotainment processor to Lucid‘s second-generation unit at a cost of $950.
New features will include multitasking capabilities allowing the two screens to operate separate functions, a quick controls menu at the bottom of the screen for frequently used buttons, improved CarPlay and Bluetooth consistency, faster profile switching, audio stability improvements, and enhanced voice commands.
“This will be huge,” Fenske said of the CarPlay and Bluetooth improvements. “I’ve had a lot of problems with CarPlay and Bluetooth.”
Profile switching, currently taking approximately 10 seconds or more, is expected to improve to eight seconds or fewer. “Still seems long, but any improvement I will take,” Fenske noted.
Audio stability improvements address an ongoing issue. “This is much needed. I still have problems with my speakers cutting out while I’m driving,” he said.
Profile Switching Limitations
Despite the planned improvements, one of Fenske’s primary complaints — the inability to switch driver profiles while driving — is unlikely to change for the Lucid Air.
Lucid told Fenske that switching profiles while driving was restricted for “legal safety reasons” and that maintaining navigation during profile switches was prevented by “data privacy requirements outside of their hands.”
The company said it had benchmarked competitors and found similar restrictions.
However, Fenske challenged this assertion by demonstrating that Tesla vehicles allow profile switching while driving at speed, including while navigating to a destination.
“Now, I don’t believe Tesla should be our North Star for data privacy and safety considerations. Although they do make incredibly safe vehicles,” Fenske said. “But the point remains, if you switch from a Tesla to a Lucid, you’d have this feature that you were once used to, and suddenly it’s disappeared.”
Lucid explained the technical difference: Tesla uses Linux-based operating systems with an in-house user interface, while Lucid uses Android-based systems where “certain customization settings are more difficult to change.”
“The short story is, while both Linux and Android have their pros and cons, Lucid‘s chosen path makes customization a bit more challenging,” Fenske summarized. “So, I don’t expect to see profile switching while driving, or maintaining navigation implemented anytime soon, if ever.”
The Gravity SUV addresses this issue differently by using ultra-wideband technology for the phone key instead of Bluetooth Low Energy.
“It can accurately determine where the phone is coming from, from which direction, and how far away it is. So it knows who is entering the driver’s seat,” Fenske explained.
Combined with the relocated facial recognition scanner, “profile switching really shouldn’t be an issue on the Gravity.”
Vehicle-to-Home Power Backup
Fenske expressed particular enthusiasm for Lucid‘s planned vehicle-to-home power backup feature, expected to launch in the first half of 2026.
“Because it feels like this feature was promised as part of the great electric future, only for few companies to actually implement it, and often requiring expensive installs,” he said.
The system will supply up to 17 kilowatts peak or 14 kilowatts continuous to a home — enough to power “absolutely everything. AC, fridge, microwave, whatever,” according to Fenske.
With the Air’s 92 kilowatt-hour battery pack and Fenske’s average home electricity use of 21 kilowatt-hours per day, he estimated the vehicle could provide approximately four days of electricity without conservation, or “a week or two if you’re only running essentials.”
Critically, unlike competing systems from Ford, Lucid‘s approach does not require an expensive home inverter. “Lucid converts the battery’s DC to AC right in the car. So this should be a much lower cost option than competitive offerings,” Fenske said.
Engineering vs. Software Debate
Fenske has also addressed viewer confusion and criticism over his continued praise of Lucid‘s engineering despite documenting extensive software problems.
“Two things can be true, right?” he said. “Like I’m pretty good at math. And so because of that, people might say, oh, he’s a smart guy. But also I don’t know how to read. And so because of that, people might say, I’m an idiot. I like to think both are true.”
He defended his assessment of Lucid‘s engineering capabilities at length.
“Denying Lucid has brilliant talent is simply an uninformed take,” he said. “They created their claim, the world’s most efficient car. That is an unfathomably difficult task. Every single component of a car plays a role in efficiency. And that they did it with something this large and this heavy is remarkable.”
Comparing the Air to the Porsche Taycan — “nearly identical in dimension, length, width, height, and wheelbase” — Fenske noted the Lucid offers significantly more rear legroom and “nearly double the cargo capacity” while delivering more power and range.
“Genuinely, mechanically, it’s an absolutely brilliant car. And it is an uninformed take to state otherwise,” he said. “Simultaneously, my personal experience has been the software sucks.”
He offered a cautiously optimistic perspective: “But it does, at least on paper, sound easier to fix a great car with poor software than to fix a terrible car with great software. Time will tell.”
Ongoing Issues
Despite the planned improvements, Fenske reported continued problems with his vehicle.
“Just the other day, the trunk button stopped working, the frunk button stopped working, and the phone app stopped working. I had to close the trunk and the frunk with my bare hands,” he said. “This car has a lot of problems. Painfully frustrating problems.”
Owner’s Verdict
Fenske said he plans to keep the vehicle through his three-year lease, with a decision on whether to buy it out or return it depending on how the car evolves.
“Currently, I lean towards returning it. But I don’t know how I’ll feel about it in two and a half years, depending on how different it is,” he said.
Asked whether he regrets the purchase, Fenske said no. “Regret implies I can’t do anything about it. I could get rid of this car if I wanted to and I haven’t.”
However, he acknowledged the car is “hard to recommend in its current state” and that the software issues have “completely drained” his initial enthusiasm.
“But Lucid has had an organizational shake-up and it really does seem like they’re working to make this car great,” he concluded. “I really do hope they succeed.”
Separately, Baird analyst Ben Kallo cut his price target on Lucid shares earlier this week, despite the company meeting its revised 2025 production guidance and unveiling a production-intent robotaxi at CES.
Lucid produced 18,378 vehicles in 2025, exceeding its lowered annual guidance of 18,000 units.
Deliveries surged by 31% to 5,345 vehicles.
