Lucid Plans To Launch First Electric Car, Promises It’s Not A...

Acura electric crossover: Acura plans to debut its first electric crossover in 2024, based on a GM platform and using a GM Ultium battery pack. Acura will design the model inside and out, likely with the same footprint as the Honda Prologue, which slots between Honda's compact CR-V and midsize Passport.

Alfa Romeo small crossover: Alfa plans to launch its first battery-electric vehicle, a crossover, in 2024. This model, slotted below the Tonale, will have gasoline-powered variants as well. It may be called the Brennero.

Aston Martin EV: Aston Martin says its first EV will be launched in 2025. But the British automaker has not said anything about the vehicle. Speculation in the press is that it could be a fully electric version of the Valhalla hybrid supercar or a battery-powered version of the DB11 sports car.

Chrysler electric crossover: The brand plans to release its first battery-electric vehicle by 2025. Chrysler unveiled a preview of what that model could look like with its electric Airflow crossover concept at CES in January. Chrysler said the concept, which offers 350 to 400 miles of electric range, is based on the STLA Large platform.

Rivian R2T/R2S/R2X/R2R: The first vehicles out of Rivian's Georgia plant are designed to be smaller and more affordable, the company says. The automaker will likely use in-house motors and offer lithium iron batteries to bring down their cost compared with the pricey R1T and R1S. Rivian says the plant will launch its first vehicles in 2025. Those could include a smaller pickup using the R2T name and a smaller R2S SUV. The new platform also could be used to make a smaller Rivian R2X that takes aim at two-door versions of the Wrangler and Bronco, once battery-electric variants of those competitors are offered. If Rivian decides to make more carlike vehicles, one possibility is an off-road-focused hatchback with the look of a rally car. AutoForecast Solutions says the sporting vehicle could take the R2R name.

BMW iX3: BMW previously put off plans to export its first electric crossover to the U.S., reportedly because of inadequate range and the lack of all-wheel drive. But the BEV's second generation could arrive here in 2026, based on the Neue Klasse platform.

Ford E-Transit: Ford plans to launch the next- generation E-Transit, built on a dedicated battery platform, in 2026 at Ohio Assembly Plant. Ford promises to add a "new commercial vehicle" at the plant around mid-decade but hasn't said what it will be. Ford executives say the E-Transit is likely to get new lithium iron phosphate cell chemistry, although it's unclear whether that would happen before or after the redesign.

Porsche electric large crossover: Porsche is expanding its lineup for the first time since the Macan launched in 2014. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume described the plus-size three-row EV as "a very sporty interpretation of an SUV." The range-topping model positioned above the Cayenne is code-named K1 and could arrive in the U.S. as early as 2026.

The investment "will provide the necessary funding to commercially launch Lucid's first electric vehicle, the Lucid Air, in 2020," the sovereign wealth fund said in a statement. "The company plans to use the funding to complete engineering development and testing of the Lucid Air, construct its factory in Arizona, enter production for the Lucid Air to begin the global rollout of the company's retail strategy starting in North America."

Lucid made big promises for its launch vehicle, the sleek and luxurious Air sedan. And the California electric vehicle startup delivered, with a record 520 miles of EPA range, blistering performance and futuristic styling. Now, the Saudi-backed automaker is struggling to push enough Air models out the door of its Arizona factory to meet the initial wave of demand. Lucid also postponed the launch of its highly anticipated Gravity SUV.

Lucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating advanced technologies and the most captivating luxury electric vehicles centered around the human experience. The company's first car, Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design that features luxurious full-size interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint. Lucid Air Grand Touring features an official EPA-estimated 516 miles of range or 1,050 horsepower. Deliveries of Lucid Air, which is produced at Lucid's factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, are currently underway to U.S. and Canadian customers.

About Lucid GroupLucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating advanced technologies and the most captivating luxury electric vehicles centered around the human experience. The company's first car, Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design that features luxurious full-size interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint. The Lucid Air Grand Touring features 819 horsepower and an estimated 830 kilometers of range. Customer deliveries of Lucid Air, which is produced at Lucid's factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, are currently underway to U.S. customers.

The VW ID.7 will be the electric successor to the Passat sedan. Based on the MEB platform like the Chattanooga-made ID.4, the electric sedan will compete with the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. Volkswagen has confirmed it will launch the ID.7 in the U.S. Expect the first ID.7 units to show up at American dealer lots in early 2024.

The company also for the first time showed Louisiana officials and some members of the media a production prototype of the car, which has a simple design to coincide with plans for a streamlined manufacturing process.

Airline deregulation changed all that. One of the first airlines to enter was People Express, founded by airline industry veteran Donald Burr.237 Burr sold his car, house, two condos, and drained his savings to put $350,000 into launching People Express in 1980.238 Former business colleagues Gerald Gitner and Melrose Dawsey joined him and personally invested $175,000 and $20,000, respectively. Citibank Venture Capital invested $600,000, and then People Express raised $25 million in an IPO. The airline boomed in the early 1980s, driving down prices and changing the industry, but it later got into financial trouble and was acquired in 1987. 2b1af7f3a8