EV maker Lucid Motors (LCID) opened its new office in Detroit this week, hoping to attract engineers from “one of the biggest talent pools in the Western world.”
Lucid sets up shop in Detroit for engineering talent
Lucid celebrated the grand opening of its new office in Southfield, Michigan, roughly 15 miles northwest of Detroit.
At its new office, Lucid is “growing our team of hardware engineers, R&D, operations, and more” as it looks toward its next growth phase.
“We need talent quickly, and that’s what this hub is about,” Eric Bach, Lucid’s senior vice and chief engineer, said at an event at the company’s new office.
Bach explained that as Ford and GM take talent from EV startups like Lucid, Tesla, and Rivian, Lucid looks to attract traditional engineering skills that are central to Detroit.
The company has already hired 24 engineers at its new hub, according to Lucid’s vice president of vehicle engineering, Charles Wildig told Automotive News. However, it plans to hire another 30 by the end of the year while growing its engineering team “exponentially.”
Lucid Air (left) and Gravity SUV (right) models (Source: Lucid)
Wildig said that Lucid gets double the number of applications for every engineering position in Michigan compared to California.
“Michigan is one of the biggest talent pools in the Western world for automotive,” he said, adding, “It’s very difficult to find that kind of talent in California.”
Lucid Gravity SUV (Source: Lucid)
The next growth phase
Lucid is adding engineering talent as it prepares to launch its first electric SUV, the Gravity, later this year.
Last week, during its Technology & Manufacturing Day, Lucid revealed that the Gravity will feature an NACS port in 2025, unlocking access to over 15,000 Tesla superchargers.
Lucid also showcased how the electric SUV and advanced future technology will enable “mass savings.”
CEO Peter Rawlinson claims Lucid is already “years ahead of the competition” but promises new tech, like its next-gen “Atlas” drive units, will be even more advanced.
(Source: Lucid Motors)
The drive unit’s smaller, more efficient design will unlock more performance at a lower cost. The next-gen tech will power Lucid’s new midsize EV platform. Lucid teased its upcoming midsize electric SUV during the event, due out in 2026.
The midsize SUV will be the first to launch on Lucid’s new lower-cost platform. Last month, the company confirmed to Electrek that it plans to launch three lower-cost models on the midsize platform.
Lucid midsize electric SUV teaser image (Source: Lucid)
Lucid is already backing up its claim of being “years ahead,” with the 2025 Air Pure being the most energy-efficient mass-production car ever, with a record 146 MPGe and 5 miles per kWh efficiency. The cheapest trim starts at $71,400.
The Lucid Air is the longest-range EV on the market, with some models offering over 500 miles range.
(Source: Lucid Motors)
Lucid’s Gravity electric SUV will launch later this year, starting at under $80,000. The midsize electric SUV is expected to launch in 2026, starting at around $50,000
Bach said Lucid is in talks with “many” automakers about sourcing its EV powertrain tech. The company already secured a deal with Aston Martin to provide EV battery and powertrain tech last June.
Because of its compact design, the powertrain can easily fit into rivals’ systems. “That means everybody can just plug and play technically,” Bach said. He added, “We are open for business,” and Lucid wants to “embrace” the competition.
Source: Automotive News, Lucid Motors
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Ford is testing a new electrified Mustang that may not be as electric as it seems. The next-gen Mustang is apparently already in development. Here’s what we know about it so far.
Is Ford launching an electrified Mustang Hybrid?
After postponing around $12 billion in planned spending on electric vehicles in 2023, Ford’s CEO Jim Farley said the company would lean more into hybrids.
Farley told investors and analysts on the company’s Q3 2023 earnings call that he’s “so thankful we have kept our foot on the gas to freshen our ICE and HEV products as we enter a changing market.”
Ford’s CFO, John Lawler, reaffirmed the company’s plans later that year, saying the company would use hybrids as a bridge to fully electric vehicles.
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“With EV adoption slower, hybrids are going to be a bigger part,” Lawler said, adding that Ford “became a little bit complacent” on hybrid tech. Last year, Ford said it would introduce a hybrid version for every gas-powered vehicle in its lineup by 2030.
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E (Source: Ford)
Ford is apparently making good on its promise with a new Mustang hybrid in development. According to a new report from Ford Authority, the Mustang hybrid, internally code-named S650E, is in development, and prototypes are already being tested.
The report claims the new Mustang has entered the Technology Prove-Out stage, suggesting it will be electrified to some degree.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally (Source: Ford)
Whether it will be a traditional hybrid or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) remains unclear. Although the company has yet to confirm it, Farley said that a “partially electrified Mustang coupe” was a strong possibility, and Ford’s Performance unit is already testing hybrid powertrains.
Electrek’s Take
Will the new Mustang hybrid sit alongside the Mach-E in Ford’s lineup? Ford’s electric crossover SUV remains one of the top-selling EVs in the US, so it’s unlikely to go anywhere, but it is due for a refresh with so many new rivals entering the market.
Through August, Ford sold 34,319 Mustang Mach-Es (+6.7% YOY) in the US. The gas-powered Mustang continues to fall out of favor, with 31,015 units sold in the first eight months of 2025, 8.3% fewer than during the same period in 2024.
With Hyundai, Stellantis, Honda, and several other global OEMs planning to launch new hybrid models in the US, the Ford Mustang hybrid doesn’t come as a total surprise. We will still have to wait for the official word from Ford, but a new electrified Stang seems more than likely.
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Transocean Barents, an oil platform passes through Canakkale Strait as vessel traffic suspended in both directions in Canakkale, Turkiye on November 12, 2024.
Enishan Keskin | Anadolu | Getty Images
Shares of Transocean plunged Thursday after the offshore driller announced the sale of a large number of shares at a discount.
Transocean is planning to sell 125 million shares at a price of $3.05, significantly lower than Wednesday’s close of $3.64. It is offering 25 million shares more than it originally planned.
The Swiss company’s stock was last down 14.8% premarket. The offering is expected to close on Friday.
Transocean expects to book about $381 million from the sale. It will use the proceeds to pay off debt.
(Correction: Updates with correct share offering price.)
New York City’s new 15 mph speed limit for electric bikes is officially set to take effect next month, in what city officials claim is a move to improve street safety. But not everyone is convinced the crackdown is targeting the real threat on the roads.
The new limit, approved earlier this year, applies to e-bikes, mopeds, and other micromobility vehicles operating in city bike lanes. Riders caught exceeding 15 mph could face warnings or citations, though the exact enforcement strategy remains murky. The NYPD says it will focus on “education first,” but given the city’s track record, that could just be the calm before the ticket storm.
The rule comes amid growing concerns from some residents and officials about rising speeds among e-bike riders, especially delivery workers who often rely on throttle-equipped bikes to meet tight deadlines. But while the new speed cap is aimed at micromobility vehicles, there’s a noticeable omission: cars, trucks, and SUVs, which continue to be allowed to travel at 25 mph – and in practice, often much faster – even though they pose exponentially more risk to vulnerable road users and are responsible for orders of magnitude more deaths each year.
It’s a move that raises eyebrows and has resulted in thousands of publicly-submitted comments that the New York Department of Transportation has seemingly ignored.
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After all, the majority of traffic fatalities in New York City don’t involve e-bikes. They involve cars. And while some e-bike riders certainly ride irresponsibly, the blanket limit nearly cuts in half the more widely accepted e-bike speed limits used around the US, and doesn’t even apply to pedal bikes, which can easily exceed such speeds despite nearly identical average weights when factoring in the vehicle and rider. Not to mention, it ignores the critical role that e-bikes play in reducing traffic congestion and emissions, especially in the delivery and commuting sectors.
So while New York is slowing down its most efficient and sustainable form of urban transport, it’s letting the real heavyweights keep their speed. If the goal is safety, then it’s fair to ask: why aren’t cars being asked to go 15 mph too?
Because once again, it seems the rules are written for the powerful – not the vulnerable.
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