Lucid Gears Up to Broaden EV Reach with Trio of Affordable Models: Project Midsize Unveiled

According to CarBuzz, Lucid is working on creating three budget-friendly electric vehicles that will cost less than its current models, the Air sedan and the soon-to-be-released Gravity SUV.

The car manufacturer is in the process of developing a "mid-size program" which will incorporate technological advancements and stylistic features initially introduced in the Air model into a series of three compact cars, targeting a broader market. This was revealed by Lucid's head of design, Derek Jenkins, in a conversation with CarBuzz at the 2024 Monterey Car Week.

"Jenkins expressed that the core concept is to expand our technological reach to engage a broader audience. He mentioned that they are developing various options surrounding that initiative."

Preview Snapshot of the Lucid Project Midsize – Image courtesy of John Voelcker

Jenkins mentioned that although the trio of upcoming models will not match the Air's speed, they will concentrate on fuel economy and streamlined design, similar to the sedan. He also pointed out that these models will be more petite and weigh less than the Air.

At the inauguration of their Casa Grande facility's second production phase in Arizona, Lucid hinted at a new vehicle that might compete with Tesla's Model Y. Dubbed "Project Midsize," Lucid revealed that engineering prototypes of this new model are already in existence.

During the discussion, Jenkins did not verify the existence of additional vehicle designs, however, he dismissed the possibility of introducing a station wagon. He highlighted that the demand for this type of vehicle is diminishing, even in Europe where station wagons have historically held a stronger presence compared to the U.S. market.

Introducing a sedan that can take on the Model 3 while also serving as a counterpart to the Model Y rival is a logical move. Peter Rawlinson, the CEO of Lucid, has expressed to Green Car Reports previously his admiration for the size and design of the Golf, and his desire to create a budget-friendly, sporty hatchback.

Crystal Clarity

Currently, Lucid is proceeding with the introduction of its new model, the Gravity. This SUV was first presented in 2023, and the initial units began production in January. During an interview at the Monterey Car Week, Rawlinson mentioned that the electric vehicle market is going through a brief downturn and referred to the shift of other car manufacturers towards hybrid vehicles as a misguided path. Earlier in August, Rawlinson shared on LinkedIn that carmakers who remain focused on electric vehicles will need several years to reach the level of efficiency that Lucid has achieved.

Green Car Reports has made contact with Lucid to get their input and promises to provide an update to this article once a response is received.

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