EV manufacturer Lucid Motors (LCID) opened its new office in Detroit this week, hoping to attract engineers from “one of the largest talent pools in the West.”
Lucid is setting up shop in Detroit for engineering talent
Lucid celebrated the grand opening of its new office in Southfield, Michigan, about 15 miles northwest of Detroit.
In its new office, Lucid is “growing our team of hardware engineers, R&D, operations, and more” as it looks to its next phase of growth.
“We need talent fast, and that's what this place is all about,” said Eric Bach, Lucid's senior vice president and chief engineer, at an event at the company's new office.
Bach explained that as Ford and GM are recruiting talent from EV startups like Lucid, Tesla, and Rivian, Lucid is looking to attract traditional engineering talent from within Detroit.
The company already employs 24 engineers at its new location, according to Lucid's vice president of automotive engineering, Charles Wildig said. Car News. However, it plans to hire 30 more by the end of the year while growing its engineering team “significantly.”
Wildig said Lucid receives twice the number of applications for all engineering positions in Michigan compared to California.
“Michigan is one of the largest talent pools in the West in the automotive industry,” he said, adding, “It's very difficult to find that kind of talent in California.”
The next stage of growth
Lucid is adding engineering talent as it prepares to launch its first electric SUV, the Gravity, later this year.
Last week, during its Technology and Manufacturing Day, Lucid revealed that Gravity will have a NACS port by 2025, opening up access to more than 15,000 Tesla superchargers.
Lucid also showed how the electric SUV and advanced future technology will make “economies of scale.”
CEO Peter Rawlinson says Lucid is already “years ahead of the competition” but promises new technologies, such as the next-generation “Atlas” drive units, will be even more advanced.
A smaller, more efficient drive unit design will unlock more performance at a lower cost. Next-generation technology will power Lucid's new mid-range EV platform. Lucid teased its mid-size electric SUV during the event, which will be released in 2026.
The midsize SUV will be the first to be launched in Lucid's new low-cost segment. Last month, the company confirmed that Electrek that it plans to launch three cheaper models on the central platform.
Lucid is already backing up its “years to come” claim, with the 2025 Air Pure being the most fuel-efficient car ever, with a record 146 MPGE and 5 miles per kWh. The cheapest trim starts at $71,400.
The Lucid Air is the longest-range EV on the market, with some models offering a range of over 500 miles.
Lucid's Gravity electric SUV will launch later this year, starting under $80,000. The mid-size electric SUV is expected to launch in 2026, starting at around $50,000.
Bach said Lucid is in discussions with “multiple” automakers about acquiring its EV powertrain technology. The company already secured an agreement with Aston Martin to supply EV battery and powertrain technology last June.
Due to its compact design, the powertrain can easily fit into competitors' systems. “That means everyone can just plug in and play with the technology,” Bach said. He added, “We're open for business,” and Lucid wants to “accommodate” the competition.
Source: Automotive News, Lucid Motors
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