EXCLUSIVE / Lucid Motors is targeting nuturers, achievers, and explorers with its upcoming line of electric vehicles as it seeks to establish its place in the ever-evolving, highly competitive EV market.
China’s small, cheap EVs are transforming how automakers and drivers view cars. It’s been a tough uphill battle for automakers, especially those in America, who can’t seem to reach those low figures (Chinese manufacturers were going into debt to do so). They’ve resorted to some pretty sneaky tactics, like charging for features that used to be a given and raising the cost of destination fees. Well, Lucid — an all-EV automaker that can’t really pivot back to combustion engines — has its own plans. Revealed at Lucid’s investor day, the EV brand has big plans to scale up and cut costs with a line of mid-size EVs packed with technology and emotion.
CEO Marc Winterhoff stated: “We are launching our mid-size platform at the end of this year. Mid-size is a very important platform and product for us. It’s a big portion of our future, and that’s why we’re actually spending most of the time today talking about it and how we will make it possible with our same DNA: our ‘compromise nothing’ ethos that we have established with the Air and the Gravity.”
Lucid has discussed this mid-size plan in the past, aiming to compete with the Tesla Model Y in the luxury segment rather than offer something super cheap. Rather than fight to see who can get to the lowest price, Lucid is hoping to appeal to a wider audience with its mid-size line. However, it will still be quite accessible compared to other EVs. It was previously believed to be $50,000, but Lucid confirmed during the investor panel that its new lineup will start below that and is aimed at North American buyers. So how will Lucid’s new mid-size vehicles fit into the EV market?
Lucid’s plan for EVs going forward
Tesla recently announced the discontinuation of the Tesla X and Tesla S models, hoping to focus more on its humanoid robot. Uh, yep. With an even bigger gap in this sector of the EV market, Lucid is leaning hard into it with three mid-size vehicles. The first to arrive will be the Lucid Cosmos, followed by the Lucid Earth. There will be a third mid-size vehicle, but it’s still a secret. According to Designer Derek Jenkins, these models will take Lucid into the future by reaching “tenfold” of the automotive market compared to its previous lineup, allowing it to scale production while “cutting our costs by up to 70%.”
The current Lucid vehicles, like the Gravity, are “very desirable” in the luxury EV category, and they do “very, very well” with those buyers, noted Jenkins. However, “it’s a relatively small category” made up of mature, tech-savvy EV owners. In 2025, Lucid delivered 15,841 vehicles, a pretty big increase over 2024. But in the future, Lucid has decided to broaden its appeal by targeting three specific categories.
The Cosmos will be aimed at “upscale nurturers.” These are curious car buyers eager to switch to EVs, looking for a sleek, efficient, and fun option. The Lucid Earth will target “trend-setting achievers,” who are a bit more adventurous and outgoing, and looking for advanced design. The third EV will be for “Arctic explorers” who want advanced technology made for outdoor fun. They want functionality, space, and design.
“These three new categories represent a target of up to 50 percent of the EV segment,” Jenkins stated.
Lucid’s mid-size EVs: design, technology, efficiency, and cargo space
Lucid didn’t go into many specifics about each model, but it did explain how it planned to stand out with its mid-size EVs in such a saturated market. The magic combination appears to be creating EVs with a bit more personality that still feel sophisticated, crisp, modern, and packed with technology. This is after doing “a ton of research” on existing customers, talking with them about their priorities. And “emotion” came up quite a lot. This would definitely differentiate the Lucid mid-size vehicles from Tesla’s options, which feel very cold, calculated, and empty aside from a massive screen.
When it comes to exterior design, the mid-size vehicles will have more “movement” and “muscle” than previous Lucid models. The stance will carry a lot more personality, allowing it to stand out in the category. To coincide with the more aggressive styling, Lucid is aiming for a more dynamic driving experience. Customers have said driving their Lucid “is a blast” and they want to bring that joy to the new models, allowing them to be dynamic in their steering and braking while remaining planted to the road. The 0 to 60 times were also revealed, a pretty good 3.5 seconds, but Lucid said this isn’t really the whole story. There’s also “class-leading aerodynamics.”
The efficiency of these vehicles was an ongoing topic, but nothing specific was mentioned. Lucid explained that range and performance will “coexist” with these models, blending together seamlessly. The Lucid Air Gravity currently gets 512 miles on a single charge, and that’s set the bar for the carmaker. You can probably expect even longer range with the upcoming mid-size vehicles due to their more compact nature. Lucid mentioned multiple times that they don’t want drivers to experience that dreaded “range anxiety.”
Functionality was another big topic regarding these mid-size vehicles. This includes optimizing the interior for cargo and storage; they feel they may even be the “space leader” in this category — Lucid even mentioned that it has more frunk space than the RAV4. While spacious inside, Lucid aims to keep the exterior lean, sleek, and compact. Stated Jenkins: “To be functional, it has to have this space and utility for people’s gear, stuff, pets, you name it. It all has to fit in. They demand that — and our designs will deliver that as they do today at a value and great price point.”
Inside the cabin, there is plenty of tech packed in. There will be a single 36-inch screen with many features, including entertainment for passengers, ranging from productivity to gaming. Widgets will help you track your car’s efficiency and see how your driving style affects your range. At the very center of it all, Lucid will have an assistant that can “literally plan your day for you” from your phone or inside the cabin. Explained Jenkins: “I can ask simple things, or complex things, but it can think through it and give you recommendations. It’s personalized, it learns what you like and don’t like. Over time, it becomes your mobility partner, your friend, and it can optimize your experience through personally knowing you.”
CEO Winterhoff added that Lucid is “very obsessed” with technology, but they don’t want to pack in the tech for tech’s sake. They hope to create an “exceptional experience” that benefits customers. Meanwhile, there are still plenty of physical controls, including keeping the “tactile feeling” of the steering wheel. There will also be mechanical analog door handles inside and outside the vehicle. Joked Jenkins: “What a time to be alive. The future is now.”
How will Lucid cut costs for its mid-size EVs?
So, how is Lucid doing all this while allegedly cutting costs so heavily? Apparently, it’s all in the manufacturing changes. Lucid discussed its battery assembly, which features an 80% reduction in components. This is part of the brand’s focus on “radical efficiency,” which delivers customers more mileage while costing Lucid less. This simplified production process allows Lucid to achieve a higher output while reducing labor and overhead costs by 50%.
While the entire production has been simplified, Lucid won’t be using “gigacasts” like Tesla — a production technique involving a large, single-piece vehicle chassis that Ford has adopted for its upcoming lineup. Jenkins stated that Lucid “doesn’t follow trends,” adding that the process doesn’t seem to deliver what customers want. The castings have been simplified, however.
On the software side, Lucid explained that these models will be a “software-defined vehicle,” meaning they will replace more physical components with virtual ones. This further reduces the number of parts needed, lowering costs without detracting from the customer experience. More specifically, these vehicles will have “40 fewer wires” than previous models. This means a 60% drop in wire harness cost and faster production. Explained Jenkins: “That is radical efficiency. That’s how we’re helping manufacturing, and that’s how we’re winning with our software-defined vehicle.”
The Lucid Cosmos will be coming out at the end of 2026.
