Lucid's CEO Peter Rawlinson believes the future is electric.
Rawlinson told The Verge at 2024 Monterey Car Week in California that "I think we're seeing a temporary blip. I think any talk of retrenchment into hybrids is a blind alley. I think hybrids offer the worst of all."
The comment by Rawlinson came days before Ford killed its electric three-row SUV and said it would shift its electrification strategy to include more hybrids.
In May, the California New Car Dealers Association released Q1 2024 sales figures. While overall the EV market share sagged in California, EV sales were up. The reason was new-car registrations grew overall with even more non-electric vehicles sold. EV sales are rising by volume.
Dealerships today have more EV options for consumers than ever, but Rawlinson noted the options are underwhelming. The sentiment was echoed by Lucid's president of design and brand, Derek Jenkins.
Lucid's built a substantial advantage over the competition in terms of EV efficiency. The 2025 Lucid Air Pure is the most efficient vehicle sold in the U.S. with a 146 MPGe rating equating to 5.0 miles per kwh. Earlier in August Rawlinson noted in a LinkedIn Post that it will take years for the competition to catch up. The competition is slowing and shifting its electrification plans.
The second model from the startup automaker, the Gravity SUV, debuted in 2023 and pre-production units started rolling off the assembly line in July. Green Car Reports drove a prototype Gravity in May and noted when it launches later this year it might outpoint some key rivals in terms of packaging, design, and driving dynamics.
A midsize crossover SUV is under development and has been teased by Lucid. The potential Tesla Model Y rival has been dubbed "Project Midsize," and is said to be planned for a launch after the Gravity SUV.
