--- title: "Lucid Gutted Its Software Team. Will Its Key Fobs Work Now?" date: "2026-01-14" modified: "2026-01-14" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/lucid-gutted-its-software-team-will-its-key-fobs-work-now" categories: - "Lucid News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "gravity" - "Lucid" - "luxury" - "suv/crossover" --- # Lucid Gutted Its Software Team. Will Its Key Fobs Work Now? ![Lucid Air and Gravity in a showroom]() *\Lucid\* Most people who have spent any length of time living with a [Lucid]() will tell you: When they work as intended, they're phenomenal. When they don't—which, as far as the software is concerned, can unfortunately be quite often—you're left wondering about what could've been. Even the new Gravity SUV, which [my colleague Joel recently sampled]() and came away gushing over in many respects, was let down by buggy, unpredictable software behavior. Lucid is aware of these problems, which is why it's turning over its entire software leadership team. It's part of a large personnel churn within Lucid over the last few months that includes the [acrimonious firing of former chief engineer Eric Bach](), as well as the separate departure of engineering VP James Hawkins, reported by *[TechCrunch]()*. Earlier in 2025, CEO and founder Peter Rawlinson stepped down as CEO of the company. And these are just the names we know about. "We have basically replaced the whole software leadership," interim CEO Marc Winterhoff told *[Automotive News]()* at CES 2026. "We are working through this." ![2026 Lucid Gravity]() *2026 Lucid Gravity. *Joel Feder** Among the issues noted in our Gravity review were erroneous missing key fob alerts, range estimates being relayed in kilometers despite the system being set to miles, an inexplicable "headlight error," and the navigation system failing to properly display a route on its own. That's inexcusable for a six-figure SUV like the Gravity, but unfortunately, not surprising in this modern era of incomplete new model launches. What's more alarming is that there are still issues with the Air that plague that sedan to this day, more than *four years* since it first began deliveries to customers. [The one I reviewed just a couple of months back]() mostly behaved fine, save for two issues. On one drive, the media controls on the steering wheel simply failed to function. Annoying, but not a dealbreaker. Far more frustrating was the hopelessly short range of the key fob when approaching the vehicle. If my Lucid Air wasn't already on, the fob barely worked; pressing the single, discreet button it contained did nothing. On many occasions, the fob would only unlock the car once I'd gotten so close to it—basically walked up to the driver's door—that it could trigger via the vehicle's proximity sensors. ![]() *The Lucid Air key fob is pretty much a weightless plastic pebble that you click the middle of (where the logo is) to use. At least in theory, because whatever you do never reaches the car. *Lucid** Add to that the disappointment of the Air key being made of noticeably cheap plastic, and it's just a confoundingly poor experience for an EV that is otherwise so proficient. How is Lucid continuously failing at the fundamental task of key fob engineering? We can't answer that question; we can only hope that the company itself knows, and has a solution to that and other problems on the way. "We are very close," Winterhoff said. "Our expectation is Gravity will be over the hump by the end of January, March at the latest. There is a lot of attention on this now right now. We clearly know that." *Got a Lucid? How has it been treating you? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()