It was solely a matter of time earlier than Lucid began coming instantly for Tesla. Lucid’s founder, Peter Rawlinson, was the chief engineering officer at Tesla and was the person behind the unique Mannequin S. Now, Rawlinson desires to take his previous firm head-on, as he just lately advised Auto Specific that Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y-fighters can be coming from Lucid subsequent.
Admittedly, Lucid does have to complete making the all-electric Gravity SUV first. That is presently in improvement and, in response to Rawlinson, on observe to launch within the second half of 2024. Whereas the Lucid Air sedan was the model’s first car, the Gravity was deliberate as its second car from the start. Nonetheless, as soon as the Gravity is completed and in the marketplace, Rawlinson is popping his consideration to Tesla’s two hottest automobiles.
“After Gravity we’re going to do Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y opponents,” he advised Auto Specific. “We predict round $50,000, perhaps $48,000—one thing like that. It’s too early to say, however that’s the imaginative and prescient.”
A less expensive Lucid is one thing I feel many EV followers would love, because the model’s spectacular motor and battery know-how is arguably the perfect within the business. So entry-level automobiles would open the door to that tech for extra folks.
Lucid can also be doing one thing Tesla ought to have achieved ages in the past and is licensing its motor, battery, and charging know-how to different corporations, specifically Aston Martin. Rawlinson makes a comparability to Intel, who licenses its processors to virtually each laptop producer on this planet.
“There’s an ‘Intel Inside’ brand on many computer systems and it might be beautiful to see ‘Lucid Inside’ on automobiles, too.”
These kind of partnerships will assist Lucid develop the income stream it wants to begin pumping out completely different automobiles. For the time being, Lucid simply would not have the gross sales to make it worthwhile sufficient to make many new automobiles. With new income streams, automobiles like a $50,000 Mannequin 3 fighter may very well be a actuality earlier than later. Nonetheless, do not count on something cheaper than that from Lucid.
Rawlinson admits {that a} funds EV, one thing round $25,000, is necessary for the mass market adoption of electrical automobiles. Whereas he says that is not one thing within the playing cards for Lucid, he wish to be the “Intel Inside” for such funds EVs.
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