Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
After delivering the first units of the luxurious electric sedan Lucid Air in late 2021 — which has became less and less expensive over the last months — Lucid Motors is now preparing to start production of its second model.
Named Gravity, the SUV is designed with seven seats across three rows and aims for a 440-mile range with production starting later this year.
On late Thursday, Lucid’s Head of Global Communications Nick Twork shared on X one of the first Gravity bodies from the automated production line after visiting the factory with the CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson.
On the social media platform X, Twork stated, “Got to spend some time with Lucid Motors CEO Peter Rawlinson at our Arizona manufacturing facility this week. Here’s one of the very first Lucid Gravity bodies off our automated production line,”
In a recent interview on the podcast “The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr,” Rawlinson expressed bold confidence in the new model, criticizing the current electric SUVs on the market by stating, “none of the electric SUVs available are very good.”
“This car will have driving dynamics and performance that exceed a Lamborghini Urus,” Rawlinson remarked.
“Yes, there are many EV SUVs out there, but none of them are very good. I’m sorry, they’re not. None of them have anything like the dynamic performance of Gravity. None of them have the range, the practicality, the interior space, or the compactness and versatility that Gravity offers.”
In the same interview, Rawlinson voiced concerns about the advantages Chinese automakers enjoy due to substantial government support and lower labor costs.
“I really believe, first of all, in a free market economy. But I think we do need to recognize that there isn’t a level playing field in what could be a free market economy. Because the degree of government support and incentivization that the Chinese automakers receive is nothing like what we see in the West,” Rawlinson stated.
The chief executive emphasized the challenges posed by China’s lower labor rates, which make it difficult for Western companies to compete on cost. Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in Lucid’s technological edge.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
