Lucid Aims to Function as a Supplier While Also Selling Cars.

      Lucid Motors has created and designed several award-winning electric vehicles in its short history, but its ultimate objective goes beyond electric cars. According to CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson, the aim is for Lucid to become the “Intel” of the automotive industry.

      In an interview with Rawlinson, InsideEVs reports that he views vehicles as only a small part of Lucid’s future profit strategies. His vision is for Lucid to transition from an electric vehicle manufacturer to a provider of hardware and software. The motivations behind this shift are numerous, with the primary goal being to ensure the company’s long-term viability while generating substantial profits.

      “I’d love it to be 20-80,” Rawlinson stated. “Twenty percent focused on cars, and 80 percent on licensing. The vision I have for Lucid is that just as there’s an Intel inside your laptop, there’s a Lucid inside a Honda or a Toyota.”

      Intel is among the largest technology firms globally. While its offerings include software, gaming systems, and related Wi-Fi devices, Intel is primarily recognized for its chips and processors, which are essential in the personal computer market. Rawlinson aims for Lucid to fulfill that role in the electric vehicle sector.

      By concentrating on licensing its electric powertrains and battery technology to both major and minor car manufacturers, Lucid's role as a supplier would remain flexible amid a continuously evolving retail environment. For instance, mass-market automakers may struggle to shift towards or away from electric vehicle development based on consumer preferences and government backing. Lucid could step in to supply the electric components that others may hesitate to invest in.

      “In a few years, there will be this realization, ‘Oh my god, we’re going to have to transition to a sustainable mode of transportation,’” Rawlinson noted. “At that point, we will be well-positioned to offer those companies that haven’t invested in [EV] technology our technology through licensing.”

      Lucid's initiative to license its technology is not entirely new. The company has previously provided battery technology to the Formula E racing series and currently holds a contract to supply Aston Martin with motors, batteries, and the Wunderbox on-board charger for an upcoming electric vehicle. Notably, the partnership is structured so that Lucid manufactures the powertrain at its facility in Arizona and ships it to Aston Martin for final assembly in the U.K. However, Rawlinson envisions a future where automakers will produce everything themselves under true licensing agreements, requiring Lucid's software for effective performance.

      “They’d produce the hardware under license in their factories…but [the components] wouldn’t function until the encrypted software is uploaded by us,” Rawlinson explained to InsideEVs. “You install your Microsoft Office—ka-chunk—Bill Gates receives his royalty, doesn’t he? I want that for Lucid.”

      Rawlinson acknowledges that there isn’t a specific timeline for when this 20-80 plan would be implemented, if ever. “I’m not making any promises,” he mentioned. “The reason it’s not factored into our financials is that I can't assure that any of it will happen.” Is this just more empty promises from an electric vehicle manufacturer? It seems there are some things we can count on.

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