The Air, the Gravity . . . and what comes next

[Northpointe]

I have only had my GGT for one week but based on my limited use agree with most of what is said above. Hardware is spot on and fantastic. Software is the main issue. But we need to separate that issue into how it is designed (or intended to be designed) and how it works now with the various bugs. I really like the software layout, ability to put what I want on upper screen and something different or complementary on lower. Menus are intuitive and easy to navigate, usually without having to dig deep into submenus. Yes, I would prefer a few more hard buttons but recognize reducing buttons and relying on software is the future and a consequence of heavily software defined user experience. At least we have hard controls for seats, vents, some AC controls - unlike Tesla, Rivian and a lot of other competition. The software on my Mercedes is much less flexible and harder to navigate BUT it has NO bugs.

The problem with Gravity software is not its basic design but the bugs. Stamp out these bugs and enable the design to work as intended, and they will have a winner.

I totally agree with the comments that most people in market for mid size, mid priced Lucid will not have the patience for early adopter issues. There is a reason most of these people in market to spend around $50,000 for car are more likely to buy a new Acura, Toyota or Lexus as opposed to a used Jaguar or Porsche. They car much more about reliability than driving dynamics. For many of these people, this will be their only car and they are not retired, upper level executives, etc. with ability to take the car to SC on regular basis. “Sorry boss, going to be late for work again today cause I have to take car in for service again.”

 

[Northpointe]

I’ll probably give the Earth a serious look the next time I’m in the market. The Gravity is a bit too big for my use case. I also don’t buy new cars. My current 2023 Air GT was purchased with 7K miles at a cost of 45% of its sticker price. Waiting two years not only saved me a ton of money, but it allowed the car, through software, to evolve along with my understanding and expectations of the vehicle. And buying a car at an $80K discount changes your view and tolerances of a lot of things. If the Earth follows a similar course I’ll probably give it serious consideration in 2028-29.

 

[Pragmatic]

If the Earth follows a similar course I’ll probably give it serious consideration in 2028-29.

Thought you were waiting for a used model?

 

[eelpout]

While I agree it needs work, it is a at least 80% a narrative generated by media to pile onto criticism in absence of other things to criticize. And yes basic stuff like fobs and handles need to work, AC settings should persist etc. What doesn't exist is an objective and non-biased 3rd party assessment RELATIVE to the market (I personally don't consider most of youtube influencers credible to actual car buyers' requirements, and dealer sold cars are not even trying to do anything showing software capabilities), competition and actual needs for assessing infotainment. I was hoping CNET was able to do this, or even that huge DCAR ADAS test they did against like 25 cars in the Chinese market. You will find out quickly about bias, narrative and other shenanigans. If you ran any automaker against this I don't think Lucid is as far behind as one expects. Now is it critical if they really want to steal mid-size sales from Model Y and 3, absolutely.

I dunno, I trust the guys at Savage Geese. They are Lucid proponents and really wanted to recommend the Gravity to everyone, but can't as it feels like Lucid tried to do too much here, the car is simply not finished and at the moment only for those who have a very high tolerance for dealing with teething issues.

 

[Northpointe]

Thought you were waiting for a used model?

I expect the Earth to be in production late 26 or early 27 which is why I will be in the market for a 2 yr. old model in 28-29.

 

[Pragmatic]

I was joking, based on Lucid's timely launches of the Air and Gravity.

 

[Northpointe]

Well it may come down to the Earth or the new Tesla Roadster as that should be out any any day now.

 

[hmp10]

I expect the Earth to be in production late 26 or early 27 which is why I will be in the market for a 2 yr. old model in 28-29.

I worry that if Lucid tries to get the Earth to market by the end of 2026 or early in 2027, it'll be a repeat of the Gravity launch -- a car with great bones but abysmal user software.

And if that happens, I think we can write the company off.

Unless the Lucid software team is bigger and deeper than I think, I can't imagine they're anywhere near on schedule with Earth software given how much retooling they're having to do on the Gravity software.

And given how overloaded Service Centers appear to be with replacing Gravity drive units, steering wheels, front consoles, etc., putting a higher-volume car into the service mix any time soon would be massive folly. We've had a Gravity for over five months, and Lucid still can't even provide us the second key fob that was included in the purchase.

 

[Lucidicrous]

I worry that if Lucid tries to get the Earth to market by the end of 2026 or early in 2027, it'll be a repeat of the Gravity launch -- a car with great bones but abysmal user software.

And if that happens, I think we can write the company off.

Unless the Lucid software team is bigger and deeper than I think, I can't imagine they're anywhere near on schedule with Earth software given how much retooling they're having to do on the Gravity software.

And given how overloaded Service Centers appear to be with replacing Gravity drive units, steering wheels, front consoles, etc., putting a higher-volume car into the service mix any time soon would be massive folly. We've had a Gravity for over five months, and Lucid still can't even provide us the second key fob that was included in the purchase.

Perhaps, Lucid should first deliver a barebones software version of Earth designed specifically for the Uber/Nuro project. There’s no reason consumers couldn’t also purchase this version and receive OTA updates as Nuro makes incremental improvements. By 2028, this Earth edition could be the first EV to reach Level 4+ autonomy. If this barebones version is priced right, they may sell like pancakes.

This would give Lucid ample time to resolve software/hardware issues for the luxury Earth versions.

 

[hmp10]

Perhaps, Lucid should first deliver a barebones software version of Earth designed specifically for the Uber/Nuro project. There’s no reason consumers couldn’t also purchase this version and receive OTA updates as Nuro makes incremental improvements. By 2028, this Earth edition could be the first EV to reach Level 4+ autonomy. If this barebones version is priced right, they may sell like pancakes.

This would give Lucid ample time to resolve software/hardware issues for the luxury Earth versions.

I don't know enough about software tech to know how feasible that is, but I think you're on the right track with your thinking. Lucid has absolutely got to avoid releasing a more mass market car with anything like the bugs the Gravity has or the Earth will be dead upon arrival . . . and the company with it.

If they once again put stock market considerations and delivery schedules ahead of giving customers a relatively problem-free vehicle out of the box it will be a regrettable demise, albeit a deserved one.

 

[prgarg]

Perhaps, Lucid should first deliver a barebones software version of Earth designed specifically for the Uber/Nuro project. There’s no reason consumers couldn’t also purchase this version and receive OTA updates as Nuro makes incremental improvements. By 2028, this Earth edition could be the first EV to reach Level 4+ autonomy. If this barebones version is priced right, they may sell like pancakes.

This would give Lucid ample time to resolve software/hardware issues for the luxury Earth versions.

The Gravity's is actually kinda barebones, it has the basic functionality and it is missing many of the advertised features. Their problem is more with the architecture and not the UI, and that has to be solid from day 1 to avoid these bugs and glitches... unless the artic blast is there by design to resemble the ocean breeze in Sanctuary mode

 

[Northpointe]

I worry that if Lucid tries to get the Earth to market by the end of 2026 or early in 2027, it'll be a repeat of the Gravity launch -- a car with great bones but abysmal user software.

And if that happens, I think we can write the company off.

Unless the Lucid software team is bigger and deeper than I think, I can't imagine they're anywhere near on schedule with Earth software given how much retooling they're having to do on the Gravity software.

And given how overloaded Service Centers appear to be with replacing Gravity drive units, steering wheels, front consoles, etc., putting a higher-volume car into the service mix any time soon would be massive folly. We've had a Gravity for over five months, and Lucid still can't even provide us the second key fob that was included in the purchase.

That’s primarily why I take a wait and see attitude and buy used. I’ll compare the Earth to other options in its range and given expected specs and pricing there will be plenty. I expect the BMW i3X will be a compelling option. The smaller Rivian, if it his hits the market is another.

When I bought my Air I was considering the I5 as an alternative. There’s a big gap between it and the Air. Pricing is comparable but the specs are vastly different.

But when you get to the mid size SUV market that narrows considerably. A big opportunity for Lucid for sure, but formidable competition. If they plan on building a volume car they have a lot to figure out in a short period of time. They won’t have the luxury that Tesla had of being first. And the competition in this space is now much bigger and better.

 

[hmp10]

I expect the BMW i3X will be a compelling option.

My brother, who has only one car, has long been awaiting the Lucid Earth to replace his 2018 Tesla Model 3 based on how impressed he's been with our Air and now our Gravity -- at least in terms of space and driving dynamics.

But having watched me live through UX 1.0 in the Air and now the constant aggravation of the Gravity software, he's decided he can't risk the same experience with the Earth. So he's now set his sights on the i3X for next year.

 

[The_Don]

One can only assume any software improvements they're making to both the Air and Gravity right now are in preparation for the midsize. The software sucks right now, but I think that's mostly because they did a major overhaul with the Gravity, that's now trickling down to the Air. I don't think it's a crazy assumption to say if the software is solid by the time midsize is released, then we can expect a better experience on midsize. That's obviously a big if, but with sales presumably ramping up significantly next year, they can probably justify allocating more manpower to tackling these bugs.

 

[hmp10]

One can only assume any software improvements they're making to both the Air and Gravity right now are in preparation for the midsize. The software sucks right now, but I think that's mostly because they did a major overhaul with the Gravity, that's now trickling down to the Air. I don't think it's a crazy assumption to say if the software is solid by the time midsize is released, then we can expect a better experience on midsize. That's obviously a big if, but with sales presumably ramping up significantly next year, they can probably justify allocating more manpower to tackling these bugs.

We've had the software in our Air move backward in a few respects lately. For instance, the satellite map no longer holds the orientation to which it was set. The map on the Pilot Screen now opens in the "direction of travel" orientation, although I have "north up" engaged. To get it back to "north up" I have to toggle through 2D and 3D settings and then re-engage the "north up" button.

And since our first Gravity was added (by Lucid, not us) to the account containing the Air, we cannot get audio to function in either car when the other is also on the road at the same time. The music pauses every couple of seconds even when we're streaming from different sources and even if one of the sources is the USB stick. Lucid has no idea why this is happening, and they have thus far failed to comply with my request to put the cars on separate accounts.

I had assumed Lucid would have learned something about how to launch a new software architecture in the three-plus years since the Air, but I was wrong. The Gravity software is at least as big a mess as the first-generation UX 1.0 in the Air -- if not worse. My conclusion at this point is that they simply don't know what they're doing with UI software. I therefore have no confidence the launch of the Earth will be any different -- and certainly not enough confidence to recommend that my brother hold off on getting the BMW if it hits the market well ahead of the Earth.

 

[boydracing]

In deciding to launch a car company into a world where there was no shortage of product, Atieva enlisted a man, Peter Rawlinson, who understood that it was a pointless exercise unless this new car could offer a combination of power, handling, efficiency, and space utilization that no one else did: not the Germans, not the Japanese, not yet the Chinese, and not the Americans in the guise of the budding EV dominance of Tesla.

And Peter Rawlinson was, perhaps uniquely, the man with the background to do it, having held top-tier engineering jobs at Jaguar, Lotus, and Tesla where he was the engineering brains behind the 2012 Car of the Year -- the original Tesla Model S.

And he succeeded. The Lucid Air quickly racked up glowing reviews and an astonishing array of automotive awards, both domestically and internationally. And, although generally less realized, the Air became and remains the best-selling car in the category of luxury EV sedans. (Four years after purchasing an Air Dream Performance it remains the best overall car I've ever owned, still solid as a rock and with an exterior and interior that looks as if it left the factory last week.)

Just to add a little to the lore...
Their first test mule for electrification was a VW Golf/GTI vehicle. It was a video of the back road with the front wheels smoking and then squealing on a road in bay area. The video was normal speed and slow motion. They have come a long way since.

 

[hmp10]

Just to add a little to the lore...
Their first test mule for electrification was a VW Golf/GTI vehicle. It was a video of the back road with the front wheels smoking and then squealing on a road in bay area. The video was normal speed and slow motion. They have come a long way since.

Did they also use some kind of small utility van as a test mule at some point? Something they gave a female name?

 

[boydracing]

Did they also use some kind of small utility van as a test mule at some point? Something they gave a female name?

Oh yes!!! My cousin drove the van a couple of times. He said it was very fun vehicle. It's name was Edna (I cheated and looked up the name). I still have the video of the golf somewhere.
Edna

 

[borski]

The Gravity software is at least as big a mess as the first-generation UX 1.0 in the Air -- if not worse.

I know this is your experience, but oh man, is that so not true for us. 1.0.4 was so bad, when I got the Air, I said they had a year to fix it before I sold the car. Luckily, they fixed it.

The Gravity, for us, has been relatively flawless software wise, in comparison. For one thing, it doesn’t take two minutes to boot, to recall one very fond memory.

 

[hmp10]

I know this is your experience, but oh man, is that so not true for us. 1.0.4 was so bad, when I got the Air, I said they had a year to fix it before I sold the car. Luckily, they fixed it.

The Gravity, for us, has been relatively flawless software wise, in comparison. For one thing, it doesn’t take two minutes to boot, to recall one very fond memory.

I've wondered a few times if I'm just more focused on the problems we're having now and that memory has erased just how rough the first 10 months were with UX 1.0 in the Air. So maybe my comparative impression is a bit skewed.

But . . . the software in our Gravities is definitely not anywhere close to where it should have been for the launch of a vehicle upon which Lucid was depending to carry it more into the mainstream. My profile has gotten corrupted in one of the cars. We have the audio issue when driving multiple Lucids simultaneously. The accent lighting defaults to undesired settings and has to be turned completely off before it can be adjusted. Segments of the accent light strips occasionally black out. The audio system defaults to Sirius and cannot be returned to the previous source with the selector button but requires going into the music library. The right cockpit and lower screens take 30+ seconds to load most of the time. We occasionally get the infamous "Arctic blast". Windows randomly quit working or go into reverse. The entry/exit feature often doesn't return the driver seat to its stored position when pressing the brake pedal upon entry.

We are over five months into ownership, and some of these problems have developed well after delivery. It's as if every fix for one thing introduces a fault in something else. It's change, but it's not progress.