Lucid (explore this topic) Production Falls 38% as EV Maker Clears Inventory
Production Plummets, Leaving Lucid with Fewer Than 1,000 Vehicles a Month
Lucid built 2,954 vehicles in the third quarter, marking its lowest quarterly output since early 2025 and a 38% drop from the second quarter. The company delivered 3,806 vehicles while clearing inventory, with commitments for 25,000 driverless cars in Europe and 20,000 with Uber.
Production fell 38% from the second quarter and 24% against the same period last year... It sold more cars than it made. That is what clearing inventory looks like.
Lower Quarterly Output Amidst Promises of Driverless Cars
This is the lowest quarterly output since early 2025, with Lucid not breaking down sales by model. Demand for the Gravity, however, has been recovering after a recall halted shipments for nearly a month.
Restructuring and Workforce Cuts
In June, Silvio Napoli cut 18% of the workforce and removed the second shift at the Casa Grande plant in Arizona, saving approximately $158 million annually. Headcount dropped to roughly 6,400 from around 9,000 at the end of 2025.
Challenges in Meeting Promises and Delays
Lucid has promised 20,000 vehicles to Uber and aimed for at least 25,000 driverless cars on European roads, but no orders or commitments have been made. The approval route for fully automated cars across the EU is capped at 1,500 per vehicle type annually.
The car intended to offset these expenses, the Cosmos, has been delayed to late 2027, with Napoli stating that the company launched products before they were ready.
Competitive Landscape in Europe
In contrast, Europe is seeing a surge in affordable electric vehicles under €25,000, with 16 models expected by the end of the year—twice last year's number—and sales projected to reach seven times their 2024 level.
By Darius Popa
Technology enthusiast and intern at The Next Web, contributing to research-backed content and investigating new technologies and global events.