Leading Electric Vehicle Manufacturer’s CEO Resigns After More Than Ten Years
Recently, just as Lucid Motors began delivering its new Gravity SUV, the company’s CEO, Peter Rawlinson, made the surprising announcement that he would be stepping down from his position and transitioning to a role as a strategic technical advisor for the board. Marc Winterhoff, who is currently the Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as the interim CEO. Rawlinson had been leading Lucid for 12 years and played a crucial role in big changes for the company, including its name change from Atieva to Lucid Motors and the successful launch of the Lucid Air sedan.
With Winterhoff now in the interim CEO role, his first task will be to ensure the smooth production of the Gravity SUV while Lucid searches for a permanent CEO. To make the Gravity more accessible, a new less expensive model called the Touring will be introduced, which will be priced lower than the current Grand Touring option. The starting price for the Lucid Gravity will be $81,550, while the Grand Touring model will remain at $96,550.
Peter Rawlinson shared his thoughts about his departure in a press release, mentioning that after the successful launch of the Gravity, he felt it was the right moment to step back. Interestingly, Rawlinson was also absent from the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, where Winterhoff mentioned that Rawlinson had chosen to withdraw from his daily duties and “pass the baton” to the next leader.
Looking ahead, Lucid is also making strides in developing new vehicles. They are working on a new mid-sized platform which will support three different models, one of which is the “Earth” SUV, expected to be unveiled in late 2026 with a price around $48,000. There are hints of a second vehicle resembling the Lucid Air sedan, but no details have emerged about the third vehicle yet. According to Winterhoff, an early version of the Earth SUV is anticipated to be revealed either at the end of this year or in early 2026.
Overall, Lucid Motors is faring well among electric vehicle startups. Both the Air and the Gravity models have received positive attention, and their sales are consistently climbing. In the third quarter of 2024, Lucid Air sales surged by 91%, achieving a record 2,781 vehicle deliveries. By the end of December 2024, the company is reported to have produced 3,386 vehicles and delivered 3,099 of them.
Although Lucid might not be as focused on self-driving technology like its competitor Rivian, its upcoming range of vehicles is diverse enough to attract potential customers, possibly more so than Rivian’s limited truck and SUV offerings.
Peter Rawlinson has successfully led Lucid through a crucial period over the last decade, and it remains to be seen how the new interim CEO will shape the future direction of the company, particularly regarding plans to license their electric vehicle technology to other automakers. Whatever the case, many hope Lucid will continue to thrive and innovate in the electric vehicle market for years to come.
