Open letter to Lucid after 7 months of ownership

[Blue Lectroid]

To your other point of whether Microsoft and Apple publish roadmaps, they do. These companies might not publish their roadmaps to the general consumers, but they share their roadmaps with their key partners such as HW manufacturers. Long ago, they recognize that the SW and HW must both arrive at the same time and with the same quality in order for the eco-system to reap the benefits. It is not perfect, but it has matured a lot over the years.

Let me use a historical example that most of us are familiar with:

> Today, USB devices pretty much work flawlessly as they are intended.
> in the old days (up to early-mid 1990s), there were serial ports, parallel ports, and what have you. It was a nightmare to make your peripherals work.
> USB 1.0 was a big step forward, but still, there were many compatibility issues.
> the industry worked together, develop roadmaps, adopt standards, developed certification processes that ensure the hardware and software work well together. Now, USB is pretty much universal and plug-and-play.
> even Apple, who has a history of trying to deviate from the standards (e.g., Firewire, Thunderbolt, Lighting, etc.) are
conforming (albeit begrudgingly) to these standards,
>standards make compatibility more predictable, lower cost, and easy for the consumer to understand.

Today, Apple and Android are the two major phone standards. Everyday, we spend a lot more time with our phones than our cars. Maybe CarPlay and AA are not perfect UIs, but most users would rather have an interface they are familiar with and can use the same apps/data than to fiddle with quirks.

And EV (and ICE) manufacturers should put their energy in building cars and adopt standard interfaces (CarPlay and AA) as their baselines.

I am pretty certain that Lucid shares its road map with key suppliers and partners. What is relevant to this discussion is how well they do (or don’t) share it with the customers / end users and as an Apple user since 1986, I’ve never been informed of “what’s next?” with regard to their hardware or software — in fact, they are notoriously secretive about those things. That is what I was referring to in my post. I’ve also never been informed of the future software or model road map by any of the car companies whose cars I’ve owned (including Tesla). That said, the link that @HC_79 shared shows that Rivian has decided to make this part of its ethos and that’s very cool…

 

[Blue Lectroid]

I took delivery of a 2025 Air Pure in October 2024 and havent really had any software problems yet. Can someone please cite a few examples of the kind or problems you have had, or provide a link that deals with problems? I realize that back in 2023 or so, there must have been problems that have been fixed by now. Just wondering what kind of problems are likely with my 2025 car.

I too have had zero issues with software (2025 AGT) other than Car Play occasionally dropping a call, but who knows whether that’s AT&T, Lucid, or Apple. The car’s software has been rock solid thus far for me and it’s my favorite UI by far for any car I’ve driven. I find it simple, elegant and intuitive.

I think the new infotainment system chip clearly speeds things up — after all, that was Lucid’s stated intent with making that change. However, I also think a lot of the “software issue” currently is a result of the echo chamber of the internet. The early versions of Lucid’s software were very buggy and really not fully baked upon release and given that history, If your car has a software blip every week or two and then you join several others who have the same, pretty soon it can sound like there’s still a major problem.

Also, if you reread the post immediately after yours of the commonly reported issues — even in the earlier model cars — it’s rather small and do these things really matter in terms of driving a car 99.9% of the time? To me they are minor in the grand scheme of what Lucid has created in the Air, but others obviously care A LOT.

The software in my Tesla M3P was always buggy…from the day I got it in 1998 right through the day I sold it last year. It was still a really great car TO DRIVE and so I just took those nearly weekly issues in stride, rebooted the software and went about my day. I didn’t go online and rant and predict the ultimate doom and gloom for Tesla’s future. At the end of the day we can all see just how “lethal” Tesla’s buggy software has been for the brand and I imagine that as Tesla continues to refine their UI that this will all one day be looked back on as the tempest in a teapot that it is…

 

[Blue Lectroid]

I think you are embellishing what was asked by the forum readers.

We are NOT asking for a 10 year roadmap of what SW/HW will be implemented. We are asking what happened to the features that were promised and charged for are going to be implemented and by when? Examples below:

First, Lucid outlined a full page of SW features/bugs in September 2024 (Investor's Conf, I believe) they need to address (search this forum for the slide). But there was no action plan and no timeline attached to the list. Thus, we are asking, when this list will be realized.

Two, Lucid made promises on future features they intend to implement and deploy such as DDP. Current instantiation of DDP is about what other auto-makers have deployed 8-10 years ago. LIDAR/DDP, which owners paid extra for ($10k+), are no where to be found.

In short, we are asking for Lucid to come forth with a plan/schedule to inform us on what was promised. Is that too much to ask?

Peter Rawlinson has said repeatedly that currently the software is the part of their cars that needs the most work and that he has personally taken over responsibility for those functions and installed new management. This change happened at the same time that the company was doing one other rather important thing — introducing Gravity. So perhaps the lag between the September ‘24 software priorities and today can be forgiven a bit?

DDP is supposed to get to Level 3 autonomous driving on the highway…that’s it. Based on what currently exists that is likely only one more major update away.

I don’t disagree with you that having some idea of when these things will happen would be cool, but these things are notoriously hard to predict. Did any of us coming from the Tesla ecosystem EVER get what was promised with FSD? We were supposed to be using our cars to drive “door to door across the US” hands free sometime back in 2020 IIRC. Should we ask Lucid to do the same? Wildly make specific promises and then grossly under-deliver?

Personally I am fine with the way Lucid conducts its business.

 

[DBV]

Can someone please tell me what car makers provide lots of communication and road maps for their future features and software development?!?!? People keep throwing that around like it actually happens…yet I have not seen one car company do that!

Does Apple give a roadmap and communicate about future software? Does Microsoft? What am I missing??

So many folks are pissed at Licid for stuff no one else does…I don’t get it.

Stop fixating on what you are hoping will come and DRIVE THE CAR and if you don’t love the car, sell it and move on…really. Life is to short to torture yourself if you are unable to wait until Lucid next updates the UI…

I would say Apple does provide a roadmap at their annual software conference in early June and then right to betas. That offers a short term and longer term roadmap. At least that is what I consider a road map or what is coming soon and then a little longer term. It always gets me pumped up as a die hard Apple person on what is coming.

 

[Kevmark58]

Your software keeps me from ordering my next Lucid or recommend it to anyone that is not an enthusiast. I understand that no software is perfect at any time, but the issues I and others are having, combined with a lack of fixes, lack of communication, lack of transparency, and a habit of consistently introducing new bugs with each new release, makes me say "no" to my next car being a Lucid. More than that, it makes me recommend against buying a Lucid to everyone that is asking and it's not an enthusiast.

Don't be fooled by the great support, feedback, and leniency that most of the people on this forum have. They are enthusiasts, willing to overlook most issues, because they love the other aspects of the car/brand or lucked out with a problem-free car. But the market that Lucid wants to conquer, that Lucid NEEDS in order to SURIVE, is not made of enthusiasts. It's made of average people that will NOT put up with all the issues that I and others have. Especially when you're paying an average of $90k. Once you get on the radar, you will be eviscerated and it will be very hard to recover from that.

I get it that you cannot get your software right, or at least not in the near future. But at a minimum you need more transparency, more communication, so people know what to expect. Keeping them in the dark will only increase the frustration. Most people here are adults, they can handle bad news. They already chose to take a risk buying your car, so they never expected perfection. Don't drive them away. Be honest with them, and they will understand your pains, make them believers.

Continuing with this strategy will work against you. It's math. A brand enthusiast will recommend Lucid to 10 other people. As it happens in life, all 10 will consider, but only 1 will buy. Now think of an unhappy owner. They will recommend against buying a Lucid to 10 people. Most probably that 10 out of 10 will not buy. Moreover, as people love to exaggerate and complain even though they never experienced a Lucid, they will start recommend against it while sipping on their Chardonnay at the next party in San Diego - just to show how knowledgeable and trendy they are. You have an snowball effect, that might or not be fair, but bad news spreads like fire nowadays. In my 7 months with Lucid, I already had 2 acquittances coming out of nowhere, looking at me like I was crazy for driving a Lucid, based on the "feedback" they got from a third cousin of an uncle of a step brother that had issues with their Lucid. Imagine how many times they said that to others.

I don't pretend to have solutions for the pickle you are in. I'm just providing feedback and (unsolicited) opinion, as someone that can hold two thoughts in their head at the same time: 1) I love the Lucid brand, and my AGT; 2) I cannot recommend it to the non-enthusiast crowd that we're hosting one a month. Moreover, if they are asking, I would recommend against it, because I don't think they will be willing to put up with the issues I dealing with.

I am leading my 5th engineering group, in just as many companies, and I know how tough it is to get it right, especially on a time and budget crunch. As an Executive, the buck stops with me, regardless who screwed up or what happened. The board, or the CEO doesn't care, that's why they are paying me, they want solutions. The only thing that helped, even when I did not have a solid solution for a given issue, was transparency and communication. People will still hate the issue, but they will understand what's behind it, the constraints that I am dealing with. That builds trust. And sometimes trust acts like an investment that keeps you solvent, until you can fix the core issues.

I hope that your current strategy will work and I will be proven wrong, as just another rambling mouth. I would love nothing more than this brand to succeed. Break a leg

I am in the market for the $79k Gravity. I have owned Tesla cars for years (model X & S). The software is damn near updated constantly. Often multiple times a week and always once or twice a e a month a the l ADT. Bugs squashed, new features frequently. I really want out of Tesla (anti-Musk), but I’m one that can’t forgive or look away from shitty software. We are driving computers on wheels now. It’s a different automotive world than ten years ago. It must work and if it doesn’t a “fix” MUST come within a month or two. The bulk of their work has to be in the software department, must be. That’s what everything about the car depends on. It’s that simple, stupid. Fix it or fail. Nothing more than that. I want a Gravity. They can count on two Lucia’s sold to this family by fall 2025 IF they get on top of their software issues.

 

[DeaneG]

I am in the market for the $79k Gravity. I have owned Tesla cars for years (model X & S). The software is damn near updated constantly. Often multiple times a week and always once or twice a e a month a the l ADT. Bugs squashed, new features frequently. I really want out of Tesla (anti-Musk), but I’m one that can’t forgive or look away from shitty software...

If you aren't already a long-term owner of a Lucid Air, you can't truly know the state of its software, as this is quite subjective. For me personally, the software could be better, but it's in the OK range. We generally get a decent OTA update monthly. I was also a long-owner owner of a Tesla, as many here are or have been. I can tell you that for me, there is no going back to Tesla. I simply want a better car, and Lucid makes the best.

Context: I managed hardware and software engineering at many startup companies. I'm a gearhead too.

 

[Bobby]

Pretty comprehensive list! But in my 2023 AT, Delays opening doors, delays for getting into reverse, delays for profile switching, and camera lags are things I experience almost daily. Screen malfunctions…maybe once a week

Would be interesting to see some qualitative evidence from people with 2025 vehicles on whether the delays are no longer existent with the newer CPUs

This is the first time I have ever heard of a delay going into reverse. Perhaps you need service.

 

[momo3605]

This is the first time I have ever heard of a delay going into reverse. Perhaps you need service.

Nah…pretty sure it’s normal for the slow CPU. when your profile is loading, it won’t let you shift into a reverse. And when it finally does load, it lags for a bit so you still can’t back up quickly

 

[Bobby]

Nah…pretty sure it’s normal for the slow CPU. when your profile is loading, it won’t let you shift into a reverse. And when it finally does load, it lags for a bit so you still can’t back up quickly

I gave up on profiles. Just have one.

 

[sri]

I gave up on profiles. Just have one.

Lucid’s Compromise nothing
Hope this is fixed sooner or later.

 

[Neurio]

I am in the market for the $79k Gravity

They can count on two Lucia’s sold to this family by fall 2025 IF they get on top of their software issues.

No offense, but if you're in the market for the base Gravity Touring model, you probably won't be getting it until sometime in 2026. When announcing the opening of reservations, they said the Touring wouldn't come until late 2025, and I'd guess the bare bones versions will come last.

 

[BS8899]

Peter Rawlinson has said repeatedly that currently the software is the part of their cars that needs the most work and that he has personally taken over responsibility for those functions and installed new management. This change happened at the same time that the company was doing one other rather important thing — introducing Gravity. So perhaps the lag between the September ‘24 software priorities and today can be forgiven a bit?

DDP is supposed to get to Level 3 autonomous driving on the highway…that’s it. Based on what currently exists that is likely only one more major update away.

I don’t disagree with you that having some idea of when these things will happen would be cool, but these things are notoriously hard to predict. Did any of us coming from the Tesla ecosystem EVER get what was promised with FSD? We were supposed to be using our cars to drive “door to door across the US” hands free sometime back in 2020 IIRC. Should we ask Lucid to do the same? Wildly make specific promises and then grossly under-deliver?

Personally I am fine with the way Lucid conducts its business.

I gave up on profiles. Just have one.

Does anyone still encounter the Lucid asking for PIN verification?

It does happen offer, but it happens. No rhythm or reason. I don't know why.

 

[LucidGT]

Your software keeps me from ordering my next Lucid or recommend it to anyone that is not an enthusiast. I understand that no software is perfect at any time, but the issues I and others are having, combined with a lack of fixes, lack of communication, lack of transparency, and a habit of consistently introducing new bugs with each new release, makes me say "no" to my next car being a Lucid. More than that, it makes me recommend against buying a Lucid to everyone that is asking and it's not an enthusiast.

Don't be fooled by the great support, feedback, and leniency that most of the people on this forum have. They are enthusiasts, willing to overlook most issues, because they love the other aspects of the car/brand or lucked out with a problem-free car. But the market that Lucid wants to conquer, that Lucid NEEDS in order to SURIVE, is not made of enthusiasts. It's made of average people that will NOT put up with all the issues that I and others have. Especially when you're paying an average of $90k. Once you get on the radar, you will be eviscerated and it will be very hard to recover from that.

I get it that you cannot get your software right, or at least not in the near future. But at a minimum you need more transparency, more communication, so people know what to expect. Keeping them in the dark will only increase the frustration. Most people here are adults, they can handle bad news. They already chose to take a risk buying your car, so they never expected perfection. Don't drive them away. Be honest with them, and they will understand your pains, make them believers.

Continuing with this strategy will work against you. It's math. A brand enthusiast will recommend Lucid to 10 other people. As it happens in life, all 10 will consider, but only 1 will buy. Now think of an unhappy owner. They will recommend against buying a Lucid to 10 people. Most probably that 10 out of 10 will not buy. Moreover, as people love to exaggerate and complain even though they never experienced a Lucid, they will start recommend against it while sipping on their Chardonnay at the next party in San Diego - just to show how knowledgeable and trendy they are. You have an snowball effect, that might or not be fair, but bad news spreads like fire nowadays. In my 7 months with Lucid, I already had 2 acquittances coming out of nowhere, looking at me like I was crazy for driving a Lucid, based on the "feedback" they got from a third cousin of an uncle of a step brother that had issues with their Lucid. Imagine how many times they said that to others.

I don't pretend to have solutions for the pickle you are in. I'm just providing feedback and (unsolicited) opinion, as someone that can hold two thoughts in their head at the same time: 1) I love the Lucid brand, and my AGT; 2) I cannot recommend it to the non-enthusiast crowd that we're hosting one a month. Moreover, if they are asking, I would recommend against it, because I don't think they will be willing to put up with the issues I dealing with.

I am leading my 5th engineering group, in just as many companies, and I know how tough it is to get it right, especially on a time and budget crunch. As an Executive, the buck stops with me, regardless who screwed up or what happened. The board, or the CEO doesn't care, that's why they are paying me, they want solutions. The only thing that helped, even when I did not have a solid solution for a given issue, was transparency and communication. People will still hate the issue, but they will understand what's behind it, the constraints that I am dealing with. That builds trust. And sometimes trust acts like an investment that keeps you solvent, until you can fix the core issues.

I hope that your current strategy will work and I will be proven wrong, as just another rambling mouth. I would love nothing more than this brand to succeed. Break a leg

I feel exactly the same St this point . 7 months and over 6 times to fix recurring problem , never transparent or give any answers or fixes but they try to fix the issues or go through the motions

 

[DeaneG]

Does anyone still encounter the Lucid asking for PIN verification?

Once in a while, fairly rarely for me. Just a brief glitch with bluetooth key detection.

 

[Bobby]

Lucid’s Compromise nothing
Hope this is fixed sooner or later.

Oh stop it.

 

[msaunders9430]

No offense, but if you're in the market for the base Gravity Touring model, you probably won't be getting it until sometime in 2026. When announcing the opening of reservations, they said the Touring wouldn't come until late 2025, and I'd guess the bare bones versions will come last.

One can hope the ramp up in production with the Touring model happens sooner than previously announced.
If not, ...... 2026.
Patience is my mantra. The original Air owners here and the lady who waited 8 years for her ID.Buzz are my heroes.

However, I'd just pay the extra $15k instead of waiting too long. Eight years? No.

 

[Neurio]

One can hope the ramp up in production with the Touring model happens sooner than previously announced.
If not, ...... 2026.
Patience is my mantra. The original Air owners here and the lady who waited 8 years for her ID.Buzz are my heroes.

However, I'd just pay the extra $15k instead of waiting too long. Eight years? No.

I waited 2-1/2 years from reservation to delivery of my Air. I was originally going to get a Touring, but got impatient and upgraded to a GT, which saved me another 6ish months wait. I'm definitely happy with the decision and I'm currently tentatively going with the Gravity GT, pending more info coming out about the Touring version.

 

[HC_79]

No offense, but if you're in the market for the base Gravity Touring model, you probably won't be getting it until sometime in 2026. When announcing the opening of reservations, they said the Touring wouldn't come until late 2025, and I'd guess the bare bones versions will come last.

If Lucid doesn’t get the Touring in people’s driveways soon rather than later then it’ll be the Air all over again and people will simply move onto another model. I get why the GT is taking priority but for a brand new factory expansion that can apparently push 90,000 cars off the line, people simply won’t put up with the snail pace approach Lucid seems to want to take between releasing trims.

 

[Adnillien]

If Lucid doesn’t get the Touring in people’s driveways soon rather than later then it’ll be the Air all over again and people will simply move onto another model. I get why the GT is taking priority but for a brand new factory expansion that can apparently push 90,000 cars off the line, people simply won’t put up with the snail pace approach Lucid seems to want to take between releasing trims.

The factory footprint and equipment can support 90k cars per year. The workforce and supply chain is current supporting about 12k cars per year. It makes absolutely no sense to ramp to 90k cars for one year and then back to 40k cars the following year just because the initial Gravity demand is higher than the sustained demand will be. The slow ramp that Lucid is planning makes very good sense.

 

[HC_79]

The factory footprint and equipment can support 90k cars per year. The workforce and supply chain is current supporting about 12k cars per year. It makes absolutely no sense to ramp to 90k cars for one year and then back to 40k cars the following year just because the initial Gravity demand is higher than the sustained demand will be. The slow ramp that Lucid is planning makes very good sense.

Of course not, that’s not the point. The point is that you don’t see Audi etc only release the Prestige then make people wait 9+ months to get the Premium or Premium Plus versions. The next model year is generally getting prepped to be sold.

If this factory can support 90,000 cars then I don’t understand why Lucid couldn’t have run both trims down the line at the same time. They’re not selling 90,000 of these things but surely they could’ve ramped up staff to deal with pushing 2 trims down the line from the get go or very soon after the GT.

The Air ramp up was abysmally slow and I feel Lucid lost a lot of sales because of that. Yes, inflation etc contributed but the time between trims wouldn’t have helped the situation.