Lucid Motors is addressing early-quality issues affecting initial deliveries of its highly anticipated electric SUV, the Gravity, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff disclosed this week.
Winterhoff confirmed during a recent conference call that the automaker has encountered technical setbacks related primarily to software integration and the vehicle’s heads-up display (HUD). He acknowledged these initial difficulties as “hiccups” that often accompany the launch of any new automotive model. In particular, complications surrounding the supply chain for the HUD prompt Lucid to temporarily remove the feature as an available option, pending improvements in the manufacturing process.
Explaining the cautious rollout, Winterhoff emphasized the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction over schedule adherence. “We’d rather push it out a few days or weeks, rather than putting a half-baked product in front of the customer,” he said, highlighting Lucid’s decision to delay the placement of Gravity SUVs in showroom displays and demonstration fleets.
The Gravity SUV represents a vital step for Lucid Motors, arriving at a crucial moment as the company faces substantial financial challenges. Lucid has already incurred cumulative losses exceeding $13 billion, struggling to achieve the sales volume for its flagship sedan, the Air, that investors initially anticipated. Moreover, management instability hit earlier this year when long-time CEO Peter Rawlinson stepped down, making room for Winterhoff to assume interim leadership of the company.
Initially slated for release in 2023, the Gravity’s debut was postponed by a year due to disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first deliveries began in late 2024 but were limited to company insiders and employees. Customer deliveries commenced only recently, though production has remained slow amid lingering manufacturing difficulties. Priced from $94,000 and capable of traveling around 450 miles on a single charge, the Gravity is expected to ramp up delivery rates significantly only in the latter half of this year, according to Lucid management predictions.
Early problems in vehicle launches are common throughout the automotive industry. Even Tesla’s Elon Musk acknowledged in past statements that buyers should consider delaying purchases of newly released models until manufacturing processes stabilize.
Winterhoff also addressed Lucid’s independent ambitions beyond direct sales. While vehicle production remains its core business, Lucid aspires to supply electric vehicle technology to other automakers. Though the company has thus far secured only one confirmed partnership—with Aston Martin—the interim CEO indicated growing interest among several companies seeking American production alliances. Lucid’s recent lease of Nikola’s former Coolidge, Arizona factory presents an ideal avenue for such collaborative ventures, Winterhoff said.
In addition, Lucid Motors is exploring partnerships focused on the Gravity’s autonomous vehicle capabilities. Winterhoff described advanced discussions with “multiple L4-focused software and mobility companies,” attracted by the SUV’s sophisticated sensor arrangements, redundant system architectures, and fast-charging capability. Such initiatives could generate crucial supplemental revenue as Lucid seeks to stabilize its finances ahead of launching a more affordable mid-sized model, targeted for release in late 2026. The company maintains that existing funds and incoming revenue should sustain operations without additional funding until then.
However, increasing economic uncertainty during the early months of President Donald Trump’s second term has introduced new risks. In response, Winterhoff noted that Lucid is carefully considering adjustments to vehicle pricing and tariff risk management strategies, alongside diversification of supply chains, to mitigate potential vulnerabilities stemming from this volatile global economic climate.
