Lucid will not offer heads-up display on Gravity GT (for now)

[JoshG]

Thinking more about this... I wonder if its possible that some of the expensive components of this innovative HUD were sourced from China and there are currently such high tariffs on those parts that Lucid felt it could no longer build that option at the price it had wanted to sell the package at?

This is a legit theory/question asked in a completely non-political way... let's make sure we all respect the rules here about not letting this get political and stick to the facts or even better would be if anyone has knowledge about where the parts might come from and if the tariffs on a component could be a factor.

 

[gregsapphire]

As we sit drumming our fingers wondering why deliveries haven't started, things are becoming murkier rather than clearer.

Lunar Titanium, a color that was on the show car in November 2023, will not be available until year end 2025.

Supernova Bronze, available at order opening, is now moved out almost a year.

Cars that have been test driven by the press since January have the HUD hardware (or at least the visible part of it) in them, although none of the HUDs were functioning. That suggested the issue might be software . . . until continuing to offer it in the DE swings back toward suggesting a hardware issue. Or is it both? Or neither?

I feel more and more as if I'm standing on shifting sands with Lucid, wondering how much of what I ordered will actually be delivered. A Dream Edition was announced at the L.A. Auto show in 2023, yet orders opened without any mention of it. Then they suddenly became available yet were kept out of the public eye, even for visitors to the Lucid ordering configurator unless you logged in to a personal account. Now a much ballyhooed option -- the rather pointless "sanctuary mode" that Lucid hyped endlessly -- has disappeared from the only model most people can order at present (the DE being limited to 420 cars . . . unless that, too, is about to change).

I have always thought Lucid marketing was a mess. Now it's just getting downright weird.

A few simple words about the reason behind each of these delays or changes would go a very long way to firm up the ground under our feet. But for some reason Lucid is determined not to utter them. They seem to be depending on a fealty to the brand or a trust in management wisdom or a deep well of good will that might not be there outside the relatively small circle of diehard fans.

Totally agree, being open and honest would be the best move and allow customers to be better informed and they might be more understanding vs how they have been going about marketing and communications. They need cars on the road that I good to help spread via word of mouth to help them grow as they won’t get to a mid sized SUV to compete with Tesla or Rivian R2 if they can’t get through their Model S/X phase and they seem to making bonehead decisions at this point and being tight lipped vs communication with customers honestly. Very curious if showroom staff has been told anything as I drive it today before the email went out and going to see the vehicle again this weekend with friends that were busy today. So interested if what feedback they get and if they are provided talking points because if I was in their shoes I’d want answers too because sales staff that don’t make these decisions are going to be the ones hearing from customers the most and not those in corporate.

 

[jered]

There's lots of possible theories -- I posted some in the other thread. Maybe the HUD hardware doesn't perform to spec and will need to be replaced in a future service campaign, so they're minimizing the number of units in the field.

Maybe after the press launch there wasn't enough forum traffic here so they needed to find something for us to argue about.

Oooh... maybe it's aliens! That would explain the Encounter Extraordinary lighting experience...

 

[joec]

So you're suggesting other trims, like the GT may be produced with a HUD in a year or two, but GTs coming out this year won't have the hardware space for a future retrofit?

I’m not suggesting that’s true. Just that it would be my best guess. I’ve been known to be wrong on occasion.

It’ll have the space for the HUD, for sure. Whether they want to train service to do the installs and stock the parts is another matter. It’s logistics, basically. And right around that time they will start selling midsize, so the chances they will have the resources on hand to make “older” Gravity customers happy?

I’m not optimistic, is all.

 

[DrLucid]

It’s a bit of a bummer that Lucid isn’t offering a HUD at the moment, especially since it seemed like something they planned to include.

Thinking back, when I first started driving my Camry, I’d actually print out directions from MapQuest to get around. Later on, I had two BMWs with HUDs, and yeah—they were super convenient.

When I switched to the Lucid Air, I wasn’t sure if not having a HUD would be a hassle. But honestly, it hasn’t been a big deal. The maps on the screen are easy to follow, and they do the job just fine for making turns and exits.

Sure, HUD has its advantages, especially for navigation, but I don’t think it’s absolutely essential. What really matters is how great the car is to drive, and how solid it is on safety—especially with family in mind.

 

[EVCar]

Whatever the challenges confronting Lucid are, I just feel bad for the company having to manage a myriad of factors outside of their control, ranging from COVID-related supply chain issues, to high interest rates and now the tariffs.
As far as supply chain goes, this remains an issue in my line of work to this date. Yes, we've seen improvements but there are still holes to be plugged daily.
Running a business in any industry is tough these days, especially for fledging companies.

 

[gregsapphire]

Hmm seems like they removed mention of the HUD from the Gravity Product page now. If it was a supply issue of technical issues I can understand but to have to announced and available to order and then pulled and then made exclusive to DE is worse. Like if it’s not working or supply issues remove it from all configurations. And or mention that it is not longer being produced and it’ll be a retrofit option at a later date etc. the way they handled this was probably the worst way.

I’m still confused why it would be exclusive to Dream Edition which is very limited. Like the R and D costs plus then working on software for just a handful of cars tells me those that do get the HUD will be waiting a long time for it work.

I really hope they come out with an update and provide another option/solution as they did mention the Dynamic lighting and HUD in many of the videos posted by YouTubers and Media for a while now.

 

[pezpunk]

Why would I want more horsepower on smaller wheels?

i'm confused by this comment. Smaller wheels accelerate faster than larger ones.

 

[pezpunk]

Hmm seems like they removed mention of the HUD from the Gravity Product page now. If it was a supply issue of technical issues I can understand but to have to announced and available to order and then pulled and then made exclusive to DE is worse. Like if it’s not working or supply issues remove it from all configurations. And or mention that it is not longer being produced and it’ll be a retrofit option at a later date etc. the way they handled this was probably the worst way.

I’m still confused why it would be exclusive to Dream Edition which is very limited. Like the R and D costs plus then working on software for just a handful of cars tells me those that do get the HUD will be waiting a long time for it work.

I really hope they come out with an update and provide another option/solution as they did mention the Dynamic lighting and HUD in many of the videos posted by YouTubers and Media for a while now.

ALL of this points very strongly towards a supply issue with the HUD projector, IMO. It makes zero sense to develop the enormously complicated software for this feature and then only put it on 450 cars, nor does it make sense to rug-pull the feature from existing orders, unless they've been absolutely forced to.

Look, in doing this, they are by default *reducing* the sale price and therefore revenue from of a huge number of existing orders. That's the last thing they want, I guarantee! I gotta believe they must have been forced into this decision against their will.

Supply Chain issues also fits the facts that the demo cars almost all had cutouts in the dash piece for the HUD, but everyone driving them was told the HUD was either "not working yet" or "not installed on this one". Sounds to me like Lucid has a handful of development sample projector units, and only one or two cars with them installed. Therefore they're removing it as an available feature, except for the one trim with low enough volume that they can actually fulfill it. Maybe they can get their hands on a few hundred? It's also possible the DE buyers will get an empty cutout and a promise to receive their unit installed free of charge at a later date, but that Lucid decided they didn't want to extend that promise to the much larger number of GT buyers. To be clear, i'm just making stuff up. Just a hypothetical.

Again speculating, but my guess is they'll probably bring the feature back to the website ordering page when (and if) they can get HUD projectors at volume again. Tesla used to do the exact same thing with various components during various supply chain disruptions. Every month, various features or configurations would disappear from the website, then reappear a year later, with no communication as to why. The battery configurations and exact features available (such as rear heated seats) would come and go with no explanation.

As a DE order holder, it doesn't affect me directly (not yet, anyway, that I know of! Waiting for the other show to drop!) but honestly, this sucks and I feel for the other buyers. One or two paragraphs of frank communication from Lucid would have been met with mild disappointment, but ultimately understanding and trust, most likely. Instead they've now got to do damage control, take a major hit trust-wise, and watch as wild-ass guesses that are probably mostly wrong congeal into accepted facts. That's what happens in an information void.

 

[steveairgt]

I first read about this yesterday on Reddit. I was hoping it wasn’t true. Now that I know it’s true, to me this is a game changer.

When I bought my AGT in late 2022, it was fully loaded, including all package. Only choices was color and wheel size. I was already on the fence to order the Gravity GT due to lack of a trade in program for my Air GT. Plus I really want a 6 seat captains chair option.

I still would have considered a DE weeks ago when my sales rep called me. They know I own an AGT and had expressed interest in Gravity for a long time. I turned down the DE for several reasons. I don’t need the extra HP. Why would I want to sacrifice range? Plus, I didn’t like that the CE didn’t include many color options.

I expect now, with this change, for a variety of reasons, they’ll see order cancellations. The DE is a big jump in price for many people.

As a shareholder and a proud owner, I am really nervous about this change. I get it, that’s it’s probably based on some part(s) that have increased substantially.

At this, I’m not considering a Gravity. This pushed me off the fence. I’ll keep and enjoy my AGT for maybe another year, then reevaluate the market.

 

[CraZ8]

Thinking more about this... I wonder if its possible that some of the expensive components of this innovative HUD were sourced from China and there are currently such high tariffs on those parts that Lucid felt it could no longer build that option at the price it had wanted to sell the package at?

This is a legit theory/question asked in a completely non-political way... let's make sure we all respect the rules here about not letting this get political and stick to the facts or even better would be if anyone has knowledge about where the parts might come from and if the tariffs on a component could be a factor.

This could be true, however the situation is fluid and rapidly changing day by day. We are far too big a market for China to let this problem fester. I expect there will be an agreement in place in the next couple of months that will put an end to the supply volatility. I also agree Lucid did not do all the R and D to just include a HUD on a relatively small number of cars whatever the reason. It might be a blessing the color I want is delayed till fall/ winter. Lucid will be offering the HUD again but maybe several months down the road.

 

[Batteryman]

Well, super disappointed in Lucid. They giveth and now taketh away. Just got a notice that the heads-up display, ambient lighting and 120-volt plugs are no longer as a Technology Upgrade Package in the Grand Touring. If I want it, I have to order a Dream Edition. I can't afford a $150,000 SUV to get that package. I"m super pissed. Super disappointed in them. I feel bait and switch because the DE wasn't compelling enough, so they stripped out what everyone wanted to made it exclusive to the DE.

I am very close to getting a R1S now. It has nothing to do with this option but more so I am losing faith in Lucid.

Drive a Gravity, then a R1S….then decide….not having HUD is going to make you get a compromised EV? You don’t get the same handling range or efficiency of the Gravity

 

[Batteryman]

It’s clearly a supply chain issue….limited supply so offering it to the mod\st expensive dream edition sounds the most reasonable way to handle it. Understand why people are upset, but, what else do you think Lucid should do? If you are in that much need of it, get a Dream edition or just wait….

 

[NoseyReporter]

It’s clearly a supply chain issue….limited supply so offering it to the mod\st expensive dream edition sounds the most reasonable way to handle it. Understand why people are upset, but, what else do you think Lucid should do? If you are in that much need of it, get a Dream edition or just wait….

Pivot to the Touring model? Strip down the GT but have the larger pack and call it a Touring+. (I know probably unrealistic but is it?)

Anyone who buys a GT now and then finds out later if you waited you could have had a HUD would be upset if the HUD kicks ass. Assuming the HUD really kicks ass like we all believe.

 

[yadaBaga]

One compromise would have been to include it in existing GGT orders only. Am sure they considered it and likely means very tight supply constraints or cost became too high to absorb.

 

[hmp10]

Assuming the HUD really kicks ass like we all believe.

Well, maybe not quite all of us, as no one has seen anything but computer simulations of it in action four months after deliveries of "production models" supposedly began. (Which brings up an interesting question: will those GTs have support of their HUDs?).

Don't get me wrong; it's not a make-or-break feature for me. But methinks a bit of cynicism is in order at this point.

 

[hmp10]

One compromise would have been to include it in existing GGT orders only. Am sure they considered it and likely means very tight supply constraints or cost became too high to absorb.

Since the much-hyped "sanctuary mode" is also disappearing from the GT along with the HUD, I'm thinking this might have something to do with cost and availability of chips rather than just HUD hardware.

 

[jbrichgels]

I am disappointed that my first time posting to this forum is out of frustration but this makes me angry. We sold our Model X and are excited about the Gravity but this feels like a bait and switch to get people to upgrade to the DE. These are some of the coolest features. This can’t be a cost saving measure because we are paying less. And it doesn’t feel like it’s a production issue if they know they can offer it in the DE, which is being produced first right? Are they not getting the DE orders they need so they are trying a bait and switch? We also ordered the bronze so now have to pick a different color if we don’t want to wait. Why so many problems with color choices?

This leaves a sour taste in our mouth about the company. We have no interest in $20,0000 for less range in the DE. We aren’t looking for a reason to cancel our order bc we know this will be a great vehicle but much more of this might question if we just get a used and wait a few years for this to iron out.

 

[NoseyReporter]

Since the much-hyped "sanctuary mode" is also disappearing from the GT along with the HUD, I'm thinking this might have something to do with cost and availability of chips rather than just HUD hardware.

I was 100% not hyped over Sanctuary mode. Everytime someone from Lucid spoke about it, I cringed. No offense to anyone who was hyped on it but it seemed like a totally gimmicky feature.

It's not immersive. You got a giant window right in front of you looking out at the world. Might as well just bring a VR headset along and put it on.

 

[hmp10]

i'm confused by this comment. Smaller wheels accelerate faster than larger ones.

True . . . all other things being equal.

But the smaller Lucid wheels come with all-season tires. The ferociously grippy new Pirelli PZ5s on the 22/23" wheels are not available in sizes for the smaller wheels. You're going to see traction control kicking in to cut power a lot quicker on the smaller Lucid wheels.