The rivalry between Tesla and Lucid Motors is taking shape, with notable exchanges in their developments and strategies. In September 2020, after Lucid announced a range of up to 517 miles for its Air model, Tesla introduced a version of the Model S Plaid with a 520-mile range, which was later canceled. Additionally, after Lucid revealed the base price of $77,400 for the Air, Elon Musk announced a reduction of over $5,500 in the price of the Model S on the same day.
Peter Rawlinson, CEO of Lucid and former chief engineer of the Model S at Tesla, pointed out that both Tesla and Lucid share a comprehensive approach to efficient electric vehicles, emphasizing the importance of efficiency in competition. Rawlinson suggested that Lucid could surpass areas considered unbeatable strengths of Tesla, such as charging, as their efficiency advantage develops over time.
In addition to their Air sedan, Lucid has plans for an SUV called Gravity and aims to produce a $25,000 electric vehicle for the mass market by the end of the decade. Rawlinson emphasized his desire to use technology and efficiency to reduce costs and make electric vehicles more accessible to the general public. Lucid aims to manufacture around three million Air and Gravity models over the next decade, and their product lineup for 2030 potentially includes a truck and a coupe.
This rivalry between two American automotive companies could be the beginning of a healthy competition in the electric vehicle market, similar to the historic Ford vs. Chevy rivalry in the realm of trucks and trailers.
