Expected depreciation of 2026 Air GT

bdunn

Member

Joined
Sep 25, 2025
Messages
97
Reaction score
39
Location
North Texas
Cars
Merc S450, Toyota Tundra
I thought this was interesting. I asked AI the following and this was the response:

===========

What will a 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring with every option costing MSRP $132,550 today probably be worth in three years and in five years?

==========

Nice—good, specific MSRP to work from. I ran current market/resale reports and built three realistic scenarios (optimistic / baseline / pessimistic) so you can see a likely range. Below are the numbers and the assumptions behind them:

Quick answer (MSRP $132,550)


  • Most-likely / baseline
    • In 3 years: ≈ $57,660 (≈ 43.5% of MSRP) .
    • In 5 years: ≈ $44,670 (≈ 33.7% of MSRP).

  • Optimistic (EV market improves, low mileage, great condition)
    • 3 years: ≈ $66,275 (50% retained)
    • 5 years: ≈ $53,020 (40% retained)

  • Pessimistic (weak used-EV demand, high mileage, battery concerns)
    • 3 years: ≈ $46,393 (35% retained)
    • 5 years: ≈ $33,138 (25% retained)
How I got those numbers
  • I used recent resale/depreciation studies and Lucid-specific data to set likely retained-value percentages. iSeeCars and other market trackers show Lucid Air and comparable luxury EVs have tended to retain ~33–44% of new price at 3–5 years in current markets; KBB cost-to-own and used listings also show steep drops for the Air in practice. Those sources guided the baseline percentages I used.
  • I then multiplied those retained percentages by your MSRP ($132,550). (Examples: 0.435 × 132,550 = $57,659.25 → rounded to $57,660 for the baseline 3-yr estimate; 0.337 × 132,550 = $44,669.35 → $44,670 for 5-yr.)
Why the wide range / key factors that will move the number

  • General EV trend volatility — EV depreciation is still above average for many models (rapid tech turnover, incentives, battery concerns). Wired, Recurrent, and other market reports have documented big swings in EV resale values recently.
  • Trim/feature mix & incentives — lease residuals and early resale prices for Lucid have been influenced heavily by purchase incentives and dealer discounts; that can make manufacturer MSRP less meaningful for resale if incentives are large. (Some owner/lease threads show lease residuals in the high-40s to low-50s percent range for certain terms because of incentives.)
  • Mileage, battery health, location, condition, and demand for luxury EVs — those move the needle a lot. Low mileage, a clean Carfax, and strong regional EV demand will push you toward the optimistic numbers; heavy use, cosmetic damage, or a flooded/oversupplied used market push toward pessimistic.
Market anchor points (what actual used listings say today)
  • Current used listings for 2022–2024 Lucid Air Grand Touring models on KBB show asking prices often in the $50k–$80k range depending on year, mileage, and location — which aligns reasonably well with the baseline range above for a ~3-year horizon.
Practical suggestions
  • If you want a more precise number I can compute: give me expected annual mileage, whether you plan to keep excellent condition, and your region (some markets hold EV value better). I can then produce a single point estimate and probability range. (No guesswork — I’ll use current published residuals/listings and apply mileage adjustments.)
  • If you’re thinking about minimizing loss: consider leasing, factory incentives, keeping mileage low, and keeping the battery and service records documented — those improve resale/ trade-in outcome.
If you’d like, I’ll produce a tailored estimate now using (a) expected annual miles, (b) how many owners in your household, and (c) whether you plan to keep it garaged/maintained. If you prefer I’ll just stick with the ranges above — your call.
 
My 2025 AGT MSRP was just under $125,000. The residual value at the end of my three year lease is $58,768.56, or 47%.

I don't believe the value of my car in three years is going to be anywhere near $58,700.
 
My 2025 AGT MSRP was just under $125,000. The residual value at the end of my three year lease is $58,768.56, or 47%.

I don't believe the value of my car in three years is going to be anywhere near $58,700.
I had a ‘22 AGT with all options. I did but used not I believe the original cost was $154k buy maybe @borski can confirm (he seems to have a great memory). I traded in to lucid which I think is given the value by KBB with 64k miles in July and I was given $54k.
 
I had a ‘22 AGT with all options. I did but used not I believe the original cost was $154k buy maybe @borski can confirm (he seems to have a great memory). I traded in to lucid which I think is given the value by KBB with 64k miles in July and I was given $54k.
Are we quoting MSRP $ or after the $7,500 EV incentive available back then?
 
I had a ‘22 AGT with all options. I did but used not I believe the original cost was $154k buy maybe @borski can confirm (he seems to have a great memory). I traded in to lucid which I think is given the value by KBB with 64k miles in July and I was given $54k.
Yup, in 2022:

Pure - $87,400
Touring - $107,400
GT - $154k
DE - $169k
GT-P - $179k
Sapphire - $249k
 
I also asked AI about the best choice given the improvements to the 2025+ model years, lease new, buy new, buy used. It was buy used no matter which engine I used or how I rephrased the question. So I’m going to see what I can find on the used market. Risk is certainly very low doing that. There are loads of 2023s coming off lease right now. If I can’t find something I’m honestly going to just lease it. That was definitely the second best option. The thing is… the money I would spend over 36 months of a lease would buy a used 2023 AGT. Reminder I’m in Texas so pay ALL the sales tax AT 6.25%. Fun.
 
Yup, in 2022:

Pure - $87,400
Touring - $107,400
GT - $154k
DE - $169k
GT-P - $179k
Sapphire - $249k
Hmmm… that DE I was considering yesterday just got more interested. If not for the soon to expire warranty. I don’t want hassles. :confused:
 
I also asked AI about the best choice given the improvements to the 2025+ model years, lease new, buy new, buy used. It was buy used no matter which engine I used or how I rephrased the question. So I’m going to see what I can find on the used market. Risk is certainly very low doing that. There are loads of 2023s coming off lease right now. If I can’t find something I’m honestly going to just lease it. That was definitely the second best option. The thing is… the money I would spend over 36 months of a lease would buy a used 2023 AGT. Reminder I’m in Texas so pay ALL the sales tax AT 6.25%. Fun.
I don't understand why people do this, lol, but if it helps you make a decision, cool. :P

Buying a new car is always a worse idea than buying a used one from a financial perspective. Period. That will never not be true, heh. You didn't need AI to tell you that. :P

You buy a new car because of one or more of:
1) You like shiny, new things
2) There is no used car yet (new model)
3) You like having a long warranty
4) You like the newest tech and features
5) You like better efficiency (as is the case with ICE cars and EVs, efficiency improves as they learn more over the years)
6) You want to customize your vehicle to your whims

If none of those things are important to you, buy used. Always.
 
Hmmm… that DE I was considering yesterday just got more interested. If not for the soon to expire warranty. I don’t want hassles. :confused:
I just ran a quote with https://www.xcelerateauto.com/ for extended coverage, just for fun...

1759681806125.webp


Also, keep in mind the battery (at 70% capacity) and drivetrain are warrantied by Lucid for 8 years or 100k miles, whichever comes first.
Corrosion Perforation is warrantied for 10 years, with no mileage limit.

The vehicle itself, otherwise, is 4 years / 50k miles.

But it is really the battery and drivetrain that are the major and most expensive items.
 
I don't understand why people do this, lol, but if it helps you make a decision, cool. :P

Buying a new car is always a worse idea than buying a used one from a financial perspective. Period. That will never not be true, heh. You didn't need AI to tell you that. :P

You buy a new car because of one or more of:
1) You like shiny, new things
2) There is no used car yet (new model)
3) You like having a long warranty
4) You like the newest tech and features
5) You like better efficiency (as is the case with ICE cars and EVs, efficiency improves as they learn more over the years)
6) You want to customize your vehicle to your whims

If none of those things are important to you, buy used. Always.
You’re correct. I know. I think I was more using AI to convince me not to be stupid. I expect the Gen 2 Air will be coming out as the 2027 year model and that will crush prices. Incidentally AI engines believe that about the next generation of the Air too. It’s pretty interesting.

I have a 2023 AGT I’m looking at and I’m going to see about that DE. I don’t really need the 1,111 HP (probably shouldn’t have it) but I like the idea of knowing it’s there and I love the color.
 
Incidentally AI engines believe that about the next generation of the Air too.
Be careful. LLMs ("AI engines") believe absolutely nothing. They are parroting to you what a human might believe, given the context you've given it and that it has obtained from everything it has read. But it is not reasoning. It is not believing anything. It is just informing of a guess it's making, based on other guesses other people are likely to make.

It's the definition of groupthink. It just doesn't feel that way.

AI doesn't have convictions. Ever. It literally can't, unless you tell it to, and those are not convictions.

I agree, though, that 2027 will likely be the Air refresh. :P
 
Yeah… I studied AI for years. These are just language systems the way I’m using them but good at collecting info together. Unfortunately they use Reddit as a source… so… yeah. You aren’t wrong. LOL
 
Yup, in 2022:

Pure - $87,400
Touring - $107,400
GT - $154k
DE - $169k
GT-P - $179k
Sapphire - $249k
MSRP price of my 2022 AGT was 139K(minus $7,500 tax credit)=$131,500(included all options). Later on they raised the price of the AGT before lowering it again.
 
Yup, in 2022:

Pure - $87,400
Touring - $107,400
GT - $154k
DE - $169k
GT-P - $179k
Sapphire - $249k
There was a time in 2022 before the price increase when a fully loaded Air GT was $139k plus 3 yrs EA free charging plus the $7500 tax deduction . Only option was to pick Color, interior choice, and wheels which did not change the price
 
Back
Top