Lucid rep says Arizona has big opportunities to corner EV market

[Alex]

Lucid rep says Arizona has big opportunities to corner EV market

CASA GRANDE — Lucid Motors is “achingly close” to rolling out its luxury electric vehicle, the Lucid Air, according to Public Policy Lead Daniel Witt.

www.pinalcentral.com

 

[hmp10]

Thanks for pointing out this article. I see you're in Tucson. Have you seen anything in the local press about the Lucid powertrain factory that is six miles (I think) from the Casa Grande paint and assembly plant about which we often hear? Other than knowing it exists, I've been unable find anything about it.

 

[Alex]

I really don’t follow the local press. But there’s an inside Tucson business magazine that I get feeds from, and I haven’t seen anything there. Casa Grande is about halfway between Tucson and Phoenix. About one hour away. I’m sure, if I were industrious enough, I could track that powertrain factory down.

 

[hmp10]

You probably couldn't see much other than the building itself. A couple of videographers fly periodic drone flights over the assembly operations . . . or at least around the perimeter. One, "Bear's Workshop", received a cease and desist letter from Lucid objecting to the flyovers. He has complied with the letter but is still able to get clear shots of the construction that is getting underway on Phase II.

I have asked both videographers about the powertrain factory but gotten no response. It seems they didn't even know about it.

I have been curious about why it is a separate facility, as it appears Lucid has leased enough land at the assembly site to have accommodated it. Why was it never mentioned in the periodic updates Lucid released during construction of the assembly plant? Was Atieva already manufacturing their battery packs and powertrains in Arizona? Since Lucid has put out a lot of press about its powertrain advances, I'm wondering why there has been so little mention of that factory or why there have been no videos from Lucid or visiting journalists of its production line as there have been at the paint shop and assembly line. Would it reveal too much about their proprietary technology?

 

[Adnillien]

I have not been able to find anything about the location of the powertrain factory looking under both the Lucid and Atieva names. The CCIV investor packet referred to it as converted warehouse that could be brought online quickly because no special building infrastructure was needed. Lucid's factory expansion video shows the powertrain assembly moving in with the rest of the main factory as part of their expansion. I have been curious about the size of the powertrain factory to get an idea of how much space is required.