Lucid Motors

Lucid Motors was founded in 2007 as Atieva by Bernard Tse and Sam Weng, focusing initially on developing high-performance battery technology and electric powertrains for other manufacturers and the Formula E racing circuit. The company's trajectory changed significantly in 2013 when Peter Rawlinson, the former Chief Engineer of the Tesla Model S, joined as CTO and steered the firm toward developing its own premium electric vehicle. Rebranding as Lucid Motors in 2016, the company unveiled the Air sedan prototype, which emphasized industry-leading range and efficiency achieved through proprietary in-house engineering and aerodynamic design. A transformative $1 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2018 provided the critical capital needed to construct its Advanced Manufacturing Plant in Arizona and finalize the Air for commercial production. After going public in 2021 through a SPAC merger with Churchill Capital Corp IV, the company successfully began customer deliveries of the Air, which set new standards for EV performance and range. In 2023, Lucid opened its second assembly facility in Saudi Arabia and proceeded to launch the Gravity SUV in late 2024 as part of its strategy to diversify its luxury lineup and target higher-volume segments. Today, Lucid continues to leverage its technological lead in motor power density and charging speed while developing a high-volume midsize platform to reach a broader global audience.