Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Lucid Motors announced in late February that Peter Rawlinson stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately. The announcement overlapped with the company’s fourth-quarter earnings results, though Rawlinson did not participate in the earnings call that followed.
Speaking to Arab News, the company’s Vice President and Managing Director for the Middle East, Faisal Sultan, said the former CEO had been “preparing for this type of departure.”
The Middle East chief stated that “Lucid is today because of him,” and when asked if the move was a surprise, he added, “No, I think Peter has been preparing for this type of departure.”
Two sources familiar with the matter previously told EV in early March that Lucid’s Chairman, Turqi Alnowaiser, had “forced out” Rawlinson and selected the Chief Operations Officer Marc Winterhoff as interim CEO.
Alnowaiser became Chairman of Lucid’s Board in April 2023, nearly two years ago, after serving as a board member since 2019. He has been Head of International Investments at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) since October 2016.
Another source, who also requested anonymity, said Winterhoff had already been involved with Lucid in his previous role at Roland Berger, where he oversaw the EV maker’s account.
The German executive played a key role in shaping Lucid’s long-term sales strategy, which projected annual sales of 60,000 Air sedans and 40,000 Gravity SUVs. Internal discussions also included more ambitious targets, ranging from 150,000 to 500,000 units annually for future mid-sized models, the source added.
The PIF, which owns a 58.4% controlling stake in Lucid, has been playing an increasingly prominent role in the company’s strategic direction.
Lucid said Rawlinson would transition to the role of Strategic Technical Advisor to the Chairman, with a monthly salary of $120,000 and other benefits. Winterhoff, who had been serving as Chief Operating Officer, assumed the role of interim CEO.
Meanwhile, Lucid is progressing with its fully built-up (CBU) manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia, after having established its semi-knockdown (SKD) assembly plant in the country.
The CBU plant remains on schedule for completion by late 2026, with production expected to begin in early 2027, according to Sultan. The facility will have an annual capacity of 150,000 units and serve global markets.
Also in February, the company silently updated its official website replacing its senior VP of Operations Steven David with Adrian Price.
Price joined Lucid last month after spending nearly three decades at Ford Motor Company. Since October 2023, the company has seen eleven high-level exits.
