Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors has finalized the initial stage of its $700 million production facility, a crucial step enabling the commencement of production for its inaugural luxury all-electric Air sedan this spring.

Situated approximately midway between Tucson and Phoenix along Interstate 10, the facility currently possesses an annual production capacity of 30,000 vehicles. Should Lucid, under the direction of CEO Peter Rawlinson, succeed in attracting a substantial customer base, the factory will expand from its present 999,000 square feet to exceed 5 million square feet. Upon complete development, the facility will be capable of producing 400,000 vehicles annually.

This represents a significant undertaking for a company that has not yet delivered any vehicles to customers. Nevertheless, Rawlinson continues to express strong confidence in the future of electric vehicles and Lucid’s prospects. Lucid is already preparing to restart construction on the subsequent phase of the factory in early next year, which will be dedicated to the production of its next vehicle, an all-electric SUV, slated for release in 2023.

The company intends to develop the factory, encompassing 590 acres, through four distinct phases, concluding in 2028.

The completion of this first phase marks roughly four years since Lucid Motors initially announced its plans to manufacture electric vehicles. This milestone was nearly unrealized, as the company faced challenges in securing new investment while utilizing its existing capital. Ultimately, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund intervened in September 2018, committing a $1 billion investment to the company.

The all-electric luxury Air sedan, unveiled in September, offers a range of up to 517 miles, contingent on the specific configuration, and features a design prioritizing both advanced technology and refined luxury.

Production will initially focus on two of the four available variants – the $169,000 Dream edition and the $139,000 Grand Touring model – at the new factory this year. Deliveries of these models are scheduled to begin in spring 2021. The remaining two variants, a Touring model priced at $95,000 and a base model costing just under $80,000, are anticipated to become available in late 2021 and throughout 2022, respectively. (These prices do not include the $7,500 federal tax credit.)

The Air is positioned as an electric counterpart to the Mercedes Benz S Class, emphasizing performance alongside design. It delivers impressive performance specifications, with the Dream edition generating 1,080 horsepower and achieving zero to 60 mph acceleration in 2.5 seconds, resulting in a range of 465 miles. The Grand Touring model produces 800 horsepower, accelerates to 60 mph in 3 seconds, and boasts a maximum range of 517 miles.

The Air will incorporate 32 sensors, a driver-monitoring system, and an Ethernet-based architecture to support its advanced driver assistance system, designed for hands-free driving on highways. The interior features a 34-inch curved glass 5K display positioned in front of the driver, appearing to float above the dashboard. A retractable central touchscreen reveals additional storage space. Physical controls remain on the steering wheel and above the center screen for volume adjustment and activation of the ADAS and Amazon Alexa, which is integrated into the vehicle. Below the center touchscreen and within the console are provisions for inductive charging, cup holders, USB-C ports, and further storage.

To achieve these advancements, Lucid highlights its design philosophy and sophisticated manufacturing processes. Lucid employs a riveted and bonded monocoque body structure, differing from the more common use of spot welds. While most contemporary vehicles utilize a unibody construction, where the frame, floor, and chassis are integrated into a single structure, a monocoque design is frequently found in motorsports, where the frame acts as a shell deriving strength from the distribution of tension and compression.