Member-only story
Will Lucid Motors’ Saudi Arabian Connection Help Win Them A Big Aston Martin Partnership?
The upstart EV manufacturer has advanced technology that may be coveted by other auto makers looking to get into the electric space
In its first year in production, EV manufacturer Lucid Motors won the coveted Motor Trend Car of the Year award with its Lucid Air sedan. Although their future appears bright regarding the design and sales of their own vehicles, they may also have a strong market with other automakers coveting their superior technology. One potential partnership that could be a mutual fit because of both companies’ connections to Saudi Arabia is a collaboration with luxury car legend Aston Martin.
Lucid’s initial car prototype is the Lucid Air, which was announced all the way back in 2016. The all-electric sedan was originally planned to have a range of 406 miles per single charge (later EPA confirmed to 520 miles) with production that started in 2021.
Additional specs on the Lucid Air include horsepower that can max out at 1,080 and a capability to go from 0 to 60 MPH in 2.5 seconds. Their expected recharging capabilities are impressive with the DC fast charge providing 300 miles of charge in just 20 minutes. Indeed, early testing showed that they may be at the head of the class of EV cars when it came to power/speed and battery life.
Unsurprisingly, the vehicle was designed with significant technological connectivity. A vehicle app allows users to utilize their cell phone as a digital key. It’s also Alexa-capable for voice control operation. This is all possible with a built-in LTE cellular connection that keeps the vehicle connected to the internet and can even be used as a WiFi hotspot.
These are all just cherries on the sundae that is their proprietary drivetrain technology, which is both cutting edge and puts them in an enviable position of being so far ahead of some other manufacturers that they may end up sourcing some of their tech so these companies can start their own EV builds.
The Saudi Arabian Public Wealth Fund (the investing arm of the Saudi Arabian royal family) owns approximately 62% of Lucid Motors. Is it possible that this…