Lucid Air in Service Queue for 7 Weeks. What Does This Mean for Long-Term Ownership?

[HC_79]

I believe that Lucid is trying to ramp up service quickly. I hear that there are many tech reqs that Lucid expects to fill soon. They are working to off load the lease return CPO cars from the service centers and add additional shifts at the service centers. We have heard of improvement in some service centers already and I expect that is being spread across the country. Silvio has been there nearly 6 months now so my patience wears thin as my car sits in service in Scottsdale. The current service situation is killing the Lucid brand and needs to be fixed quickly. Being and optimist, I believe that this is a top priority with Lucid.

I've taken the stance of not even bothering to contact service unless the car dies and needs to be towed to them. Its missed its 12 month service, plus a number of minor issues being fixed all due to the fact I simply don't want Lucid keeping my car for 7+ weeks, loaner or no loaner! This week, the 2nd row won't go fully back into position but its still not enough for me to book it in. I've just decided to live with the issues until the car basically dies, forcing it to go to a Service Center.

 

[Bdr100]

I've taken the stance of not even bothering to contact service unless the car dies and needs to be towed to them. Its missed its 12 month service, plus a number of minor issues being fixed all due to the fact I simply don't want Lucid keeping my car for 7+ weeks, loaner or no loaner! This week, the 2nd row won't go fully back into position but its still not enough for me to book it in. I've just decided to live with the issues until the car basically dies, forcing it to go to a Service Center.

My second row has been worked on twice and still has issues that I am just living with until service HOPEFULLY improves. I plan to periodically check the app to see if it will allow me to schedule a service visit. I have a feeling that this might not happen until my 12,000 mile visit sometime next summer.

On the note of janky second row seats, last week I hit the deck hard on my bike and when my wife showed up on the scene and tried to drop the seats so she could load my bike in back, it acted up. Fortunately a Constable on the scene was able to figure it out (you now have to manually push the seats down). I was not able to assist as I was in ambulance on way to hospital with a pretty good concussion. I have no memory at all of about 4 hours post accident. Wife said I did not know who the president was, but to be fair, I have been trying to block that out of my mind for the past 2 years. All good now but glad I had my helmet on.

 

[gaskiller]

I generally agree. But it may be a matter of survival. If the goal is to attract new buyers to the brand it is a huge barrier. The service center I rely on (Scottsdale) supports 5 states. Fortunately I’m only 30 minutes away. But if I lived in any of those other states I would not buy a Lucid. And there’s ample evidence on this board and others of customers waiting inordinate amounts of time to have their vehicles serviced. You simply can’t pronounce the problem “fixed” and expect prospective buyers to roll the dice. My story has become a familiar one, love the car, can’t recommend the company. And that’s an endorsement Lucid can’t afford.

It supports 3 states, and they told me they are looking to open another service center.

 

[BS8899]

It supports 3 states, and they told me they are looking to open another service center.

I don't think hiring more service techs is the only solution, nor is ot the best solution.

In a different post, I strongly urge Lucid to "Re-Think" their service model. Specifically, get rid of the things other non-Lucid service center can perform and focus the Lucid SC on the power train and SW.

Rivian does this pretty well. They don't do tires, rotations, alignment (I am not completely sure about this last ne). Rivian tells you to go to discount tires instead. And Discount Tires is great! No appointments necessary, just walk in and they do it quicky and professionally.

In contrast, Lucid want to do everything. In my last service (about a year ago), the did the 3-year service and signed me up for wheel alignment for $350. In hindsight, I could have (and should have) let Discount Tires to do the wheel alignment for me for less than $200.

Lucid's C-suite should not just blindly hire and train more service techs. They need to take a holistic look at what they want to service that enhances their brand and help them sell more cars.

My understanding is that Lucid, the car company, and Lucid Service, the service center are actually two separate companies and (presumably) separate P&L. I think Lucid (the parent company) should think like an adult and find the most optimal solution for Lucid and for Lucid's customers.

 

[Aka-none]

Even if they sell 25K Cosmos in the first year, the current Lucid service infrastructure cannot handle it. While they are getting AMP-2 ready for Cosmos Lucid should be AGGRESSIVELY ramping up the number service centers and technicians to handle the current and anticipated additional cars in the fleet.

And you know that’s not occurring? How so? I certainly don’t know what they have decided and put into play in what, 4 months?

But please do share, I honestly would like to know.

 

[Northpointe]

I don't think hiring more service techs is the only solution, nor is ot the best solution.

In a different post, I strongly urge Lucid to "Re-Think" their service model. Specifically, get rid of the things other non-Lucid service center can perform and focus the Lucid SC on the power train and SW.

Rivian does this pretty well. They don't do tires, rotations, alignment (I am not completely sure about this last ne). Rivian tells you to go to discount tires instead. And Discount Tires is great! No appointments necessary, just walk in and they do it quicky and professionally.

In contrast, Lucid want to do everything. In my last service (about a year ago), the did the 3-year service and signed me up for wheel alignment for $350. In hindsight, I could have (and should have) let Discount Tires to do the wheel alignment for me for less than $200.

Lucid's C-suite should not just blindly hire and train more service techs. They need to take a holistic look at what they want to service that enhances their brand and help them sell more cars.

My understanding is that Lucid, the car company, and Lucid Service, the service center are actually two separate companies and (presumably) separate P&L. I think Lucid (the parent company) should think like an adult and find the most optimal solution for Lucid and for Lucid's customers.

I'm not seeing many complaints from folks who can't get tires or alignments so steering this business elsewhere would likely provide nominal benefit. And if I needed tires (or an alignment) I'm not sure I would even bother with Lucid at this point given that there are other readily available options.

The service backlog seems to be driven by the things you've suggested that Lucid should focus on (powertrain and software). I'd add to that quality related issues as they seem to be spending a considerable amount of time fixing problems that should have been addressed in production. Second row seats and window regulators on the Gravity are a good example of this.

I would agree that with the launch of a volume model that nothing should be off the table. But the company seems to be struggling with quality issues that are overwhelming their limited resources. If they don't fix the problem at the source it will only worsen as they put more vehicles into their ecosystem. My fear is that with their capital constraints they simply won't be able to keep up with the issues and defects associated with the cars that are on the road. I'm hoping to see a bit more transparency on that issue going forward along with solid progress. The closer they get to the launch of Cosmos the further they need to be from their service issues.

 

[socktucker]

My second row has been worked on twice and still has issues that I am just living with until service HOPEFULLY improves. I plan to periodically check the app to see if it will allow me to schedule a service visit. I have a feeling that this might not happen until my 12,000 mile visit sometime next summer.

On the note of janky second row seats, last week I hit the deck hard on my bike and when my wife showed up on the scene and tried to drop the seats so she could load my bike in back, it acted up. Fortunately a Constable on the scene was able to figure it out (you now have to manually push the seats down). I was not able to assist as I was in ambulance on way to hospital with a pretty good concussion. I have no memory at all of about 4 hours post accident. Wife said I did not know who the president was, but to be fair, I have been trying to block that out of my mind for the past 2 years. All good now but glad I had my helmet on.

Damn man glad you’re ok! Concussion is no joke.

 

[cajual]

Where the fuck are all these service centers? I had no problem scheduling a post-delivery service for several cosmetic fixes that required replacing multiple door panels and the rear window (I didn't even ask for a new rear window, it was just an issue with some of the skirting gasket that I figured they would cut away). It was done within 4 business days and they texted me status updates every day. This was last month. I was able to get multiple mobile service appointments scheduled within 30 days, and I live 90+ minutes from my service center.

I guess Tyson's Galleria is the place to be?

Btw, I've logged >31k miles behind an Air/Gravity with zero issues. Yeah, 31k isn't much, my uncle-in-law has an Air GT out in the Chicago area with 84k miles and no system faults or drive errors. Luck of the draw.

 

[gaskiller]

I don't think hiring more service techs is the only solution, nor is ot the best solution.

In a different post, I strongly urge Lucid to "Re-Think" their service model. Specifically, get rid of the things other non-Lucid service center can perform and focus the Lucid SC on the power train and SW.

Rivian does this pretty well. They don't do tires, rotations, alignment (I am not completely sure about this last ne). Rivian tells you to go to discount tires instead. And Discount Tires is great! No appointments necessary, just walk in and they do it quicky and professionally.

In contrast, Lucid want to do everything. In my last service (about a year ago), the did the 3-year service and signed me up for wheel alignment for $350. In hindsight, I could have (and should have) let Discount Tires to do the wheel alignment for me for less than $200.

Lucid's C-suite should not just blindly hire and train more service techs. They need to take a holistic look at what they want to service that enhances their brand and help them sell more cars.

My understanding is that Lucid, the car company, and Lucid Service, the service center are actually two separate companies and (presumably) separate P&L. I think Lucid (the parent company) should think like an adult and find the most optimal solution for Lucid and for Lucid's customers.

Good points!

 

[gaskiller]

And you know that’s not occurring? How so? I certainly don’t know what they have decided and put into play in what, 4 months?

But please do share, I honestly would like to know.

Well, they delayed Cosmos 6 months for perfection…..maybe they don’t need to expand any service centers….

 

[Ktw13]

My service appointment is usually within 3 days in Dubai.

I know sharing good thing about Lucid makes those having difficulty even more pissed off, but I am just sharing my reality like others sharing negative one.