Lucid’s Gravity SUV is taking another step toward production with tests on public roads

Luxury electric-vehicle maker Lucid Group said Tuesday that it has begun testing its next model, a large SUV called Gravity, on public roads in the U.S., a key milestone ahead of the Gravity’s expected launch next year.

Lucid hasn’t yet fully revealed the Gravity in production-spec trim. But the company has said that the Gravity will have seating for up to seven people, with “the driving dynamics of a sports car.” The interior will feature new high-resolution displays powered by a new generation of Lucid’s proprietary software operating system, Lucid said on Tuesday.

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The Gravity is an important product for Lucid. While Lucid’s first vehicle, the Air sedan, has impressed reviewers and won several important industry awards, demand for the high-priced EV appears to have fallen well short of Lucid’s internal expectations.

Shares have fallen about 30% since Lucid said in February that it expects to build just 10,000 to 14,000 Airs in 2023, versus the 27,000 that Wall Street had expected. The stock was hit again in March, when Lucid cut 18% of its workforce, about 1,300 employees.

CEO Peter Rawlinson said in a statement that development of the Gravity is driving further advancements of Lucid’s in-house software and battery technology.

“The Lucid Air redefined the sedan category, and as our technology continues to evolve and lead the market, we are in a place where the Gravity is positioned to change the world of SUVs,” Rawlinson said.

Lucid has promised that the Gravity will have greater electric range than any SUV currently on the market. The new vehicle will incorporate the advanced batteries and charging systems developed by Lucid for its Air sedan, and is expected to debut with range close to the Air’s industry-leading 516 EPA-estimated miles in top trim.

The Gravity’s likely electric luxury SUV rivals – Rivian‘s R1S, Tesla‘s Model X, and the BMW iX – have maximum EPA-estimated ranges of 390 miles, 333 miles and 324 miles, respectively.

Lucid had originally planned to release the Gravity later this year. But in February 2022, after beginning production of the Air, Rawlinson said Lucid would delay the Gravity until 2024 to refine the design and incorporate lessons learned from the Air’s launch. The Gravity will be built alongside the Air at Lucid’s factory in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Lucid confirmed that it expects to begin deliveries of the Gravity next year. The vehicle was originally slated for the first half of 2024, but that timeline has since been adjusted.