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Lucid Motors Completes Arizona Factory

December 11, 2020 by admin 1 Comment

Phase one of four for Lucid’s manufacturing plant.


Lucid Motor’s Amp-1 factory is ready to produce electric vehicles.

We all know that 2020 will go down as the year when everything changed. Most notably, a pandemic raged across the world, taking lives and shutting down economies. Many of the best-laid plans of individuals and businesses came to a screeching halt or were changed significantly.

Although the coronavirus reshaped lives nearly everywhere, the pandemic didn’t stop everything. In fact, a certain Lucid Motors factory under construction in Arizona is now complete with the project finished ahead of schedule.

Lucid, Tesla, and Rivian

Lucid Motors isn’t a household name nor does it possess the cache of Tesla or Rivian, the latter also an upstart electric vehicle manufacturer in the same vein as these two. But unlike Tesla and Rivian with repurposed factories in California and Illinois respectively, the Lucid factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, was built from the ground up. And it took just under a year to finish the project.

Thus, the Lucid Motors factory has the honored distinction of being the first purpose-built electric vehicle factory in the U.S. That’s noteworthy especially as fledging companies such as Lucid may find the offerings thin on existing plant availability. In addition, the process for acquiring an existing factory and fitting it to a company’s needs can take years to accomplish. By building a new factory from the ground up, Lucid got the project done in just under 12 months and that’s well ahead of the Spring 2021 date for production to begin on its first EV, the Lucid Air sedan.

In a statement released by Lucid at the beginning of the month, the company made known its achievement.

“We broke ground on the 590-acre Lucid AMP-1 site in Casa Grande, Arizona, on December 2, 2019, and slightly less than a year later we have completed the first purpose-built EV factory in North America,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Motors. “The effort and agility demonstrated by this team is truly astounding, as we’re already commissioning equipment compatible with the Lucid manufacturing system to start production of the next-generation EV, Lucid Air, in just a few months.”

California Based, Arizona Build

Based in Newark, California, Lucid Motors said it chose the Arizona location for several reasons, including its proximity to an existing automotive supply chain. Further, securing open land to build its structure, while having space to expand as needed played in its decision to build in Arizona. Also, having access to local talent was a difference-maker.

In its current form, the AMP-1 factory has a build capacity of 30,000 units annually. This will allow the company to meet the initial demand for its 1000-horsepower electric sedan. In effect, the current factory footprint represents just the first of four phases planned through 2028 to expand the factory from just under 1 million square feet to just over five times that size. When fully scaled, AMP-1 will have the capacity to build 400,000 units annually.

“In building this factory, we adhered to several important manufacturing philosophies, including the tenets of ‘Future Ready’ and ‘On Time,’ together which have allowed us to effectively manage our investment and build a brand new factory from the ground up,” said Peter Hochholdinger, VP of Manufacturing, Lucid Motors. “As we add new platforms and vehicles to our lineup, the planning that went into this facility ensures that we will always be able to keep up with growing customer demand for advanced electric vehicles.

Spring 2021 Production and Cost

As production starts next spring, Lucid Motors will begin filling pre-existing orders for the Lucid Air Pure with a starting price of $74,400. That cost doesn’t include the available $7,500 federal tax credit or local incentives, such as on the state level. Other trims to follow include the Lucid Air Dream Editions, followed by Touring and Grand Touring editions. An SUV model is planned and should follow the sedan in a few years.

Auto Trends will continue to follow Lucid Motors’ progress as the company readies its first model. If we somehow are able to get behind the wheel of one, we’ll share that experience with you here and likely through other published sources.


See Also – About Lucid Air

Photo copyright Lucid Motors. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: AMP-1, Arizona, CALIFORNIA, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, Lucid Air, Lucid Motors, Rivian, TESLA

About Lucid Motors

January 28, 2020 by admin 4 Comments

Lucid Air Prototype.

Lucid Motors isn’t a household name, but if this Newark, California-based mobility company has its way, that’ll soon change. And soon cannot come quickly enough for the company, founded in 2007, as it plans to debut its first model at the New York International Auto Show in April 2020.

Long Range, Immense Power

Officially known as Lucid Motors USA, Inc., this upstart automaker is situated in the heart of the Silicon Valley. The company essentially operated undercover for several years, revealing its first model in December 2016. Known as the Lucid Air, this all-electric sedan sports a pair of AC induction motors, which generate a combined 1,000 horsepower. Yes, you read that right: one thousand pounds of forward thrust!

Importantly, Lucid says the planned vehicle has a 400-mile range. That places the Lucid Air in unique territory and effectively removes range anxiety for nearly everyone.


The available Executive Seat Package is a must!

From Atieva to Lucid

The company’s long road to an official unveiling of a production model comes to an end at the New York show this spring. That follows years of development and capitalization, including important backing from a Saudi Arabia public trust fund. The company also underwent a name change, exchanging Atieva for Lucid in October 2016. Initially a battery maker, Lucid Motors’ current mission coincides with the name change.

Batteries remain an important part of what the Lucid Air is all about, thus the company will supply its own batteries for the sedan. For the last two seasons, Lucid batteries have powered all Formula E Season race teams. Notably, Lucid is both the designer and manufacturer for every participating race car.


A tablet-sized interface dominates the lower section of the center console.

Made in Arizona

Unlike Tesla, Lucid Motors will not build its electric vehicles in California. Instead, the company is constructing a plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, located halfway between Phoenix and Tucson.

Construction began in December with the first phase expected to be complete by the end of this year. Production of the new sedan should begin early next year with a modest 15,000 units projected for the 2021 calendar year.

Price Point and Amenities

Eventually, annual output could reach 100,000 vehicles, but we’re talking about a sedan with a top price point somewhere above $100,000. By then, Lucid may have another model or two in the mix, perhaps following Tesla by offering a mass-production sedan for about half the price. Also, there is some debate about whether a shorter range and one electric motor version will be offered from the onset. If so, we’re looking at a sedan with a far lower price point, but perhaps not much lower than the Tesla Model S.

Most of the other details about the sedan will emerge in New York. However, reports indicate that full LED lighting, alloy wheels, a leather interior, power front seats, heated seats, and an infotainment system with an oversized screen are on the docket. Other available features include a premium audio system, panoramic sunroof, an executive seat package, and an active suspension system.


Does the Lucid Air remind you of a competing model?

Looking Ahead

Of course, we’ll be following the Lucid Air’s debut in New York this spring and will share additional information about this sedan and the company. We’ll get clarity on a few things, including battery offerings, equipment levels, and perhaps price.

What’s especially interesting about Lucid Motors is that the company employed a stealth mode early on, just like Rivian. But Rivian has attracted far deeper and wider backing from a host of companies, including Amazon and the Ford Motor Company. Then again, Rivian’s first two models are a pickup truck and an SUV, vehicles in far greater demand than sedans these days. They’ll find their way in many fleets and the skateboard platform will also be used to power an upcoming Ford electric truck.


See Also — 4 Lesser Known Facts About the Tesla Model X

Photos copyright Lucid Motors.

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: Arizona, CALIFORNIA, electric batteries, ELECTRIC VEHICLE, Formula E Season, Lucid Air, Lucid Motors, NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW, Saudi Arabia, sedan

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