Lucid Motors unveiled the “Lucid Lunar,” a robotaxi concept vehicle, at an investor event in New York City. The two-seater car lacks a steering wheel and pedals and is intended to be based on the company’s upcoming mid-size electric vehicle platform. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff mentioned that while work on the Lunar is underway, it will be introduced following the mid-size vehicles. However, Lucid later clarified there’s no active development on the robotaxi yet.
Lucid is nearing an agreement with Uber to develop a robotaxi from its mid-size vehicle lineup and is collaborating with autonomous vehicle company Nuro to create an autonomous Gravity SUV for Uber’s network in San Francisco by year’s end. Neither company confirmed if Nuro’s technology would be used.
These announcements, made towards the end of Lucid’s investor day, underscore the company’s focus on building an autonomy business alongside its electric vehicle sales. During the presentation, Lucid displayed a bar chart predicting that robotaxi partnership revenue could surpass what it earns from licensing EV tech, though it lacked a Y-axis label.
Lucid plans to monetize its partial autonomy features. From 2027, it will offer monthly subscriptions for DreamDrive Pro, ranging from $69 for basic driver assistance to $199 for full self-driving capability, which hasn’t been fully developed yet. Lucid claims autonomy subscriptions represent the biggest software monetization chance, aligning with Tesla’s and Rivian’s strategies.
Lucid is also developing an in-cabin AI assistant for tasks like adjusting air conditioning and responding to complex queries. However, a live demo during the event failed, resorting to a prerecorded video instead.
The remainder of the event highlighted efforts to reduce manufacturing costs and improve drivetrain efficiency, which is essential for the affordability of its mid-size vehicles priced around $50,000. The first two vehicles, Lucid Cosmos and Lucid Earth, are expected to launch by year-end, with a third name yet to be disclosed.