Connect with us

Published

on

California-based Lucid Motors (LCID) is expanding globally. With a new European boss who brings extensive experience from Polestar, Maserati, and Audi, Lucid aims to build its brand in new markets.

Lucid hires former Polestar exec to expand in Europe

Lucid hired Alexander Lutz, who spent the past four and a half years with Polestar, as its new managing director for Europe. Lutz started the first of the year.

Before Polestar, Lutz worked for Audi before joining Maserati for four years. With experience in brand building, sales, and marketing, Lucid believes Lutz can help expand its reach into Europe.

After opening its second studio in Germany in the heart of Düsseldorf in September, Lucid confirmed, “German customers are ready for Lucid.” The EV maker currently sells one model in the country – the Lucid Air.

Lucid’s electric sedan starts at 109,000 euros ($120,300) in Germany. Despite the Air featuring up to 516 miles (830 km) EPA range (enough to get from Amsterdam to Berlin), Lucid has struggled to gain traction.

Lucid’s stock is sitting at all-time lows after Q4 deliveries failed to reach 2022 output. With 1,932 EVs handed over in the last three months of the year, Lucid’s deliveries were down about 12% YOY.

Lucid-Polestar
Lucid EV studio in Germany (Source: Lucid)

Production has also slipped from a peak of 3,493 in Q4 2022 to 2,391 this past quarter. Lucid delivered 6,001 vehicles last year in total, up 28% compared to 2022.

Lucid also built 8,428 EVs last year, hitting its (revised) goal of between 8,000 to 8,500. The EV maker lowered its target in November from an initial 10,000 to 14,000.

To make matters worse, Lucid’s CFO, Sherry House, resigned last month. The news came as a surprise as Lucid enters a critical stretch.

Lucid-Polestar
Lucid Gravity (left) and Air (behind) (Source: Lucid)

Lucid hopes its first electric SUV, the Gravity, can help turn things around. The Lucid Gravity will start at under $80,000 in the US with up to 440 miles range to compete in the growing premium electric SUV segment.

The company has yet to confirm plans to launch the Gravity in Europe, but a long-range premium electric SUV could potentially help expand the brand.

Electrek’s Take

Lucid has struggled to keep up with other premium EV leaders in the US, like Tesla and Rivian. Rivian’s R1S electric SUV cracked the top ten best-selling EVs last year, with 24,783 models sold.

Can an overseas expansion and a new electric SUV spark growth? That’s what the EV maker is hoping for.

Check back to learn more about Lucid’s financial situation when the EV maker releases Q4 earnings on February 21, 2024. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.

Source: Automobilwoche

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Double your chances in Climate XChange’s 10th Annual EV Raffle!

Published

on

By

Double your chances in Climate XChange's 10th Annual EV Raffle!

Climate XChange’s Annual EV Raffle is back for the 10th year running – and for the first time ever, Climate XChange has two raffle options on the table! The nonprofit has helped lucky winners custom-order their ideal EVs for the past decade. Now you have the chance to kick off your holiday season with a brand new EV for as little as $100.

About half of the raffle tickets have been sold so far for each of the raffles – you can see the live ticket count on Climate XChange’s homepage – so your odds of winning are better than ever.

But don’t wait – raffle ticket sales end on December 8!

Climate XChange is working hard to help states transition to a zero-emissions economy. Every ticket you buy supports this mission while giving you a chance to drive home your dream EV.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Here’s how Climate XChange’s 10th Annual Raffle works:

Image: Climate XChange

The Luxury Raffle

  • Grand Prize: The winner can choose any EV on the market, fully customized up to $120,000. This year, you can split the prize between two EVs if the total is $120,000 or less.
  • Taxes covered: This raffle comes with no strings – Climate XChange also pays all of the taxes.
  • Runner-up prizes: Even if you don’t win the Grand Prize, you still have a chance at the 2nd prize of $12,500 and the 3rd prize of $7,500.
  • Ticket price: $250.
  • Grand Prize Drawing: December 12, 2025.
  • Only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle.

The Mini Raffle (New for 2025)

  • Grand Prize: Choose any EV on the market, fully customized, up to $45,000. This is the perfect raffle if you’re ready to make the switch to an EV but aren’t in the market for a luxury model.
  • Taxes covered: Climate XChange pays all the taxes on the Mini Raffle, too.
  • Ticket price: $100.
  • Only 3,500 tickets will be sold for the Mini Raffle.

Why it’s worth entering

For a decade, Climate XChange has run a raffle that’s fair, transparent, and exciting. Every ticket stub is printed, and the entire drawing is live-streamed, including the loading of the raffle drum. Independent auditors also oversee the process.

Plus, your odds on the Luxury and Mini Raffles are far better than most car raffles, and they’re even better if you enter both.

Remember that only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle and only 3,500 for the Mini Raffle, and around half of the available tickets have been sold so far, so don’t miss your shot at your dream EV!

Climate XChange personally works with the winners to help them build and order their dream EVs. The winner of the Ninth Annual EV Raffle built a gorgeous storm blue Rivian R1T.

How to enter

Go to CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek before December 8 to buy your ticket. Start dreaming up your perfect EV – and know that no matter what, you’re helping accelerate the shift to clean energy.

Who is Climate XChange?

Climate XChange (CXC) is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies because they’re critical in accelerating the transition to a zero-emissions economy. CXC advances state climate policy through its State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) – a community of more than 15,000 advocates and policymakers – and its State Climate Policy Dashboard, a leading data platform for tracking climate action across the US.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

This fun-vibes Honda Cub lookalike electric scooter is now almost half off

Published

on

By

This fun-vibes Honda Cub lookalike electric scooter is now almost half off

The CSC Monterey – one of the most charming little electric scooters on the US market – has dropped to a shockingly low $1,699, down from its original $2,899 MSRP. That’s nearly half off for a full-size, street-legal electric scooter that channels major Honda Super Cub energy, but without the gas, noise, or maintenance of the original.

CSC Motorcycles, based in Azusa, California, has a long history of importing and supporting small-format electric and gas bikes, but the Monterey has always stood out as the brand’s “fun vibes first” model. With its step-through frame, big retro headlight, slim bodywork, and upright seating position, it looks like something from a 1960s postcard – just brought into the modern era with lithium batteries and a brushless hub motor.

I had my first experience on one of these scooters back in 2021, when I reviewed the then-new model here on Electrek. I instantly fell in love with it and even got one for my dad. It now lives at his place and I think he gets just as much joy from looking at it in his garage as riding it.

You can see my review video below.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The performance is solidly moped-class, which is exactly what it’s designed for. A 2,400W rear hub motor pushes the Monterey up to a claimed 30 mph or 48 km/h (I found it really topped out at closer to 32 mph or 51 km/h), making it perfect for city streets, beach towns, and lower-speed suburban routes.

A 60V, roughly 1.6 kWh removable battery offers around 30–40 miles (48-64 km) of real-world range, depending on how aggressively you twist the throttle. It’s commuter-ready, grocery-run-ready, and campus-ready right out of the crate.

It’s also remarkably approachable. At around 181 pounds (82 kg), the Monterey is light for a sit-down scooter, making it easy to maneuver and park. There’s a small storage cubby, LED lighting, and the usual simple twist-and-go operation. And it comes with full support from CSC, a company that keeps a massive warehouse stocked with components and spare parts.

My sister has a CSC SG250 (I’m still trying to convert her to electric) and has gotten great support from them in the past, including from their mechanics walking her through carburetor questions over the phone. So I know from personal experience that CSC is a great company that stands behind its bikes.

But the real story here is the price. Scooters in this class typically hover between $2,500 and $4,500, and electric retro-style models often jump well above that.

At $1,699, the Monterey is one of the least expensive street-legal electric scooters available from a reputable US distributor, especially one that actually stocks parts and provides phone support.

If you’ve been curious about swapping a few car errands for something electric – or you just want a fun, vintage-styled runabout for getting around town – this is one of the best deals of the year.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Podcast: Tesla Robotaxi setback, Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more

Published

on

By

Podcast: Tesla Robotaxi setback, Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss a big Tesla Robotaxi setback, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. Sales end on Dec. 8th for its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending