Lucid's Mid-Size Electric SUV First Prototypes Complete Manufacturing, Production Planned for Late 2026

According to foreign media reports, U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors has recently completed the production of the first batch of official prototypes for its debut mid-size all-electric SUV platform. Codenamed "Project Midsize," this model is a key product for Lucid targeting high-volume markets and will spawn three different body styles, none of which will be sedans. This news was announced by Nick Twork, Lucid's Head of Communications, on the social media platform X, where he revealed he was on-site observing the new vehicle assembly process in the company's prototype manufacturing area.

Image source: Lucid

Rawlinson stated that the production version "will surprise the public," and pointed out that the new car will continue the underlying technology architecture of the Lucid Air sedan and Gravity SUV, but will achieve significant improvements in manufacturability, while optimizing the cost structure. Lucid has previously verified its R&D capabilities in the field of high-performance pure electric technology, but has not yet achieved sustainable cost control under mass production conditions. Currently, how to balance product pricing and profitability remains the core challenge facing the company. It is reported that the mid-size platform is regarded as an important vehicle for Lucid to reverse the trend of cash consumption.

Lucid has made it clear that the platform was designed from the outset with cost reduction in mind. Analysts estimate that the starting price of its main model, positioned against the Tesla Model Y, will be around $50,000, a significant decrease compared to the Lucid Air sedan's $70,000 and the Gravity SUV's $80,000. This pricing falls into the higher end of the comparable market segment, reflecting Lucid's continued positioning as a premium brand while expanding its potential customer reach.

Lucid has confirmed that Project Midsize is slated to begin production by the end of 2026, slightly later than the Rivian R2, which is expected to launch first in 2026 with a starting price of approximately $45,000. The platform is not limited to a single model but supports three non-sedan body styles, aiming to enhance production line flexibility and market responsiveness. However, Lucid has not disclosed specific range, power, or intelligent configuration parameters, nor has it specified the market positioning and release timeline for the three models. As of January 28, 2026, the project is in the prototype validation phase, with pre-production testing and certification still underway.