Drive Wire for November 30th, 2016: Lucid Motors To Build In Arizona

The company will break ground on the $700 million facility next year, start building cars in 2018.

By Eric Goeres By The Drive StaffNovember 30, 2016

HI, I’M ERIC GOERES AND THIS IS DRIVE WIRE FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, 2016.

LUCID MOTORS ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS SELECTED CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA, AS THE FUTURE SITE OF ITS MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, LIANE YVKOFF REPORTS ON THE DRIVE DOT COM. THE LUCID PRODUCTION PLANT WILL BE A $700 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT BY THE SILICON VALLEY-BASED AUTOMOTIVE START-UP, WHICH IS AIMING TO RIVAL TESLA WITH A 1,000-HP ELECTRIC SPORTS SEDAN. PRODUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN 2018, AND THE NEW FACILITY IS EXPECTED TO EMPLOY 2,000 PEOPLE BY THE END OF 2022.

BRIAN BARRON, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL MANUFACTURING AT LUCID, SAID THE COMPANY STARTED WITH A LIST OF 60 CITIES IN 13 STATES, AND ULTIMATELY SELECTED ARIZONA BECAUSE OF ITS TALENT POOL, TAX INCENTIVES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND LOCATION. ARIZONA GOV. DOUG DUCEY HIGHLIGHTED THE LOCATION'S PROXIMITY TO SUPPLIERS IN SONORA, MEXICO AS AN INFLUENCING FACTOR IN THEIR FAVOR.

TWO ALPHA PROTOTYPES IN CAMOUFLAGE WERE AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO SHOWCASE THE COMPANY'S TECHNOLOGY MINIATURIZATION PROWESS. CONDENSING KEY ELEMENTS OPTIMIZES INTERIOR SPACE TO HEIGHTEN THE DRIVING AND RIDING EXPERIENCE, EXPLAINED CTO PETER RAWLINSON.

BARRON SAID CONSTRUCTION OF THE MANUFACTURING SITE AND HIRING WILL BEGIN IN 2017 AND LUCID MOTORS IS EXPECTED TO REVEAL ITS ELECTRIC SUPER-SEDAN MID-DECEMBER 2016.