American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer. Lucid Motors will finally launch in the UK in 2027 with its first right-hand drive (RHD) model, an all-new mid-size electric SUV called cosmosaccordingly Autocar.
The California-based automaker produced its first model – the Lucid Air sedan – at its Arizona factory in September 2021, followed by the large Gravity SUV in December 2024.
However, the Cosmos – a direct competitor to popular electric vehicles like the Tesla Model Y and premium electric SUVs like the BMW iX3 – will be the first of several smaller new midsize models, including a more rugged SUV called Earth.
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Unlike the Air and Gravity, all of these new Lucid models are now confirmed to be made in both left and right hand drive for markets such as the UK.
This therefore opens the door for an Australian launch for Lucid, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Speech at the 2025 Munich Motor Show last September, Where the EV brand was staging the Gravity’s European launch, Lucid CEO Marc Winterhof confirmed that the company will “enter the UK with a mid-size platform”, referring to the previously announced entry-level model that will sit underneath the seven-seat Gravity and Air large sedan.
At the time, it was expected that the new mid-sized SUV would be called Lucid Earth, and the launch of a corresponding electric sedan to compete with the popular Tesla Model 3 and possibly an off-road model was also predicted.
Mr. Winterhof told us Auto Express The new mid-size model family would launch in North America in December 2026 with a target starting price of less than US$50,000 (A$74,825), undercutting the Gravity’s base price, which was US$69,900 (A$104,575) at the time.
After prioritizing the US and other left-hand drive markets, including Europe, which have similar safety and design certification requirements to Australia, RHD production for the UK also makes it easier to export the new mid-size SUV to markets such as Australia.
According to this week Autocar Lucid’s smaller new SUV will reportedly be unveiled later this year before production begins at the company’s recently completed factory in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The “more off-road and adventure-focused Earth” will follow in 2028, and then a larger, more practical derivative of the Cosmos.
All of these mid-size electric vehicles are based on a new platform with a tailored 800V electric architecture and are powered by more compact and efficient electric motors.
This is what Lucid’s European President Lawrence Hamilton said Autocar that, unlike the Air and Gravity, the Cosmos will be designed for right-hand drive production from the start.
“We need to make sure we have the right product for the market opportunity that exists,” he said. “Developing Air and Gravity for right-hand drive is a big investment and that investment has to pay off. There’s a real opportunity for volume in mid-size cars.”
Mr Hamilton said he expected strong demand for both the mainstream Cosmos off-roader and the Earth off-roader, citing the continued popularity of premium adventure-themed SUVs such as the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
“The more utilitarian direction is definitely attractive to us in Europe,” he said.
“It’s a statement about how people want to spend their time. And there’s obviously a lot of market demand for the sleeker, sportier CUVs.”
“The strategy has always been very clear: to start relatively small and humble. Air and Gravity are arguably proof of concept and brand building – showing the world what we are capable of. Mid-range models (models like the Cosmos) will bring this capability to a larger mass market.”
It is a similar strategy to Tesla, which has the large liftback Model S and the SUV Model
Lucid’s European boss added that if the Cosmos is a success, he may fund RHD development of the Gravity in the future, but he ruled out extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and the prospect of Lucid producing anything other than electric vehicles.
“We are not interested in having anything to do with fossil fuel burning technologies. We are pure BEVs because we believe they make a better product,” he said.
Lucid’s majority shareholder has been Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund since April 2019, and other investors include large index fund managers such as Vanguard Group, BlackRock and State Street.
If launched in Australia, Lucid would join other luxury electric vehicle brands here including Cadillac, Polestar and Zeekr.
