Lucid is really gunning for Tesla’s space in the auto industry with its new mid-size EV lineup. Not only are the three models meant to compete against the Tesla Model Y, but the American carmaker is also hoping to make its mid-size EVs into robotaxis, called Lunar.
During Lucid’s investor panel on March 12th, the automaker revealed two of its three mid-size EVs, aimed at a wider audience than its previous luxury fleet. With a lower price range (the cheapest model will be priced below $50,000 to start), stronger emotional appeal, and tons of technology, Lucid sees the new mid-size lineup as a direct competitor to Tesla rather than attempting to keep up with China’s cheap EV models. The first, Lucid Cosmos, will be released in late 2026, followed by the Lucid Earth.
Not only is Lucid hoping to hit a wide range of electric vehicle drivers, but it’s also hoping that these mid-size EVs can enter the autonomous taxi industry.
Lucid’s mid-size EVs will be customized for robotaxi services
While discussing the future of its mid-size EVs, Lucid brought Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi onto the stage. The longtime Uber boss informed Lucid investors that the mid-size lineup would be adopted by Uber for its self-driving taxi fleet. From here, I don’t think it’ll be too hard to compete with the Tesla Robotaxi.
Lucid plans to introduce a dedicated robotaxi version of its mid-sized lineup. This specialized EV will be “more efficient” and “more suited to taxi applications.” The Level 4 autonomous vehicle will include an entertainment system that enhances the customer experience and may offer monetization opportunities. Think about watching various television shows or playing games, similar to what’s offered in the Tesla Cybercab. An additional big selling point of the robotaxi concept is the storage, which is quite large thanks to its two-seater design, making it a good choice for those going to or from the airport.
The Lucid mid-size robotaxi will have operating costs 40% lower than those of current robotaxis, another appealing feature of this newcomer to the market. Its driving efficiency is 5.5 to 6.0 miles per kWh and it will get 200-plus miles for every 15 minutes of charging.
“I’m really excited about the development track of the midsize platform. In fact, I think I’m now authorized to say that we’re finalizing an agreement between Uber and Lucid,” said Khosrowshahi. “to do a similar deployment of Lucid, a mid-sized platform at similar levels of volume to the Gravity robotaxi platform. And I think that’s really exciting. It’s a great development.”
According to Khosrowshahi, Uber has seen significant customer interest in autonomous vehicles after deploying its relatively new fleet in Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Dallas. As they’ve continued to roll out more robotaxis across the United States, they’ve seen customers choosing them over human options enough that they want to scale up the fleet. He stated: “We want to go big with this. We want to go global. […] Moving forward together makes a lot more sense than moving forward apart, and it’s going to be great for our customers.”
Not a lot is known about Lucid’s new robotaxi design just yet, but I think it could literally be a white van with the words “FREE WIFI” written in black Sharpie on the side and still be more successful than the current Tesla robotaxi fleet. Tesla’s rushed attempts at keeping up with Waymo have led to a tiny fleet, inflated prices, and technology that just isn’t ready. Most of its vehicles have a person inside or following behind, making sure the vehicle doesn’t speed past a red light or drive over an active train track. I think Elon Musk would have been better off skipping that strange dancing robot presentation to ensure the robotaxis were actually safe and functional. Right now, they are limited to just two cities, and there are barely any to flag down — which is for the best.
With Lucid partnering directly with Uber and planning a more advanced, luxurious experience, it could become a competitor to Waymo rather than Tesla. Of course, we’ll have to learn more about Lucid’s plans before we know that for sure.
