FYI: Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson asserts that his company has overtaken Tesla in the EV race, leveraging a long-standing rivalry with Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk.
Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson Continues to Challenge Tesla’s Dominance
Lucid Motors CEO Peter Rawlinson is maintaining his ongoing narrative that Lucid has surpassed Tesla, much to the chagrin of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The rivalry between Rawlinson and Musk is not new; it dates back to the early days of the Model S development, where Rawlinson was an engineer. Despite Rawlinson’s claims of being the "Chief Engineer," Musk has a different recollection.
Background: The Rivalry That Won’t Quit
Rawlinson asserts that during his tenure at Tesla, he played a pivotal role in designing the Model S. Musk, however, disputes this claim. According to a tweet by Musk in September 2020, the prototype for the Model S was completed before Rawlinson joined, and he did not contribute to critical elements like powertrain, battery, electronics, or software.
Contradictions in Public Claims
Despite Musk’s assertions, Tesla’s own promotional materials and SEC filings have identified Rawlinson as the Chief Engineer of the Model S. This contradiction adds fuel to the fire, heightening the tension between the two EV frontrunners.
Rawlinson’s Recent Bold Claims
In a recent interview with Pras Subramanian of Yahoo Finance, Rawlinson did not hold back his opinions. He stated that Tesla appears “distracted” and claimed that Lucid has taken over as the technology leader in the EV market.
"Clearly, we have the best technology in the world. We’ve now taken the mantle from Tesla," Rawlinson declared. "Everyone is striving for ‘how far can you go with how little battery space?’ We are considerably ahead of where Tesla is. We’ve taken that mantle."
Lucid’s Technological Edge
Lucid’s claim to fame is its Air sedan, which has achieved the distinction of being the first EV to receive an EPA rating of over 500 miles on a single charge. While this milestone illustrates Lucid’s technological advancements, range alone does not dictate market success.
Market Realities: Beyond Just Range
Although Lucid offers impressive range, several factors contribute to an EV’s success—quality, price, affordability, software, and infrastructure. Tesla excels in these areas by offering more competitively priced vehicles and boasting the largest global charging network. In terms of software, Tesla has firmly established itself as a leader, overshadowing many competitors.
The Road Ahead for Lucid
Despite producing vehicles known for their range and performance, Lucid is still navigating through the growing pains typical of a nascent company in the EV sector. While the matchup between Tesla and Lucid continues to evolve, it is clear that Lucid has a long way to go before it can claim unequivocal market dominance.
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Written by William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
