Lucid Is Working On A Tesla Cybercab Competitor. See The Futuristic Two-Seat Taxi Here

The California startup is developing its own robotaxi on the upcoming midsize platform to challenge the Tesla Cybercab.

Lucid Lunar

Photo by: Suvrat Kothari

Suvrat Kothari

By: Suvrat Kothari

Mar 12, at 11:29am ET

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Lucid is going all guns blazing on more mass-market electric vehicles and robotaxis.

The automaker announced its Cosmos and Earth midsize electric SUVs today at its Investor Day event in New York City, featuring a next-gen electrical architecture a step above the Gravity and a base price of about $50,000. The automaker also had a "one more thing" announcement: a new robotaxi called the Lunar aimed at rivaling the Tesla Cybercab.

Gallery: Lucid Lunar Concept

Lucid Lunar

Source: Suvrat Kothari

In the concept stage right now, Lucid is looking at the Lunar as a part of its growing autonomy ambitions. The vehicle is similar to Tesla's taxi, with no steering wheel or pedals, only two seats, and a massive screen at the center. It will ride on Lucid’s new midsize EV platform, which will also underpin the Cosmos and Earth crossovers. Its silhouette is similar to the Gravity, but in a much smaller footprint.

Details are scarce right now, but we gleaned a few insights from today's event. Lucid is targeting 5.5 to 6 miles per kilowatt-hour of efficiency on the Lunar, which is substantially more than the 3-4 miles per kWh of efficiency that most EVs in the U.S. have today, or even the 5 miles per kWh the brand's Air sedan. The automaker is leaning on aerodynamics and low drag, which should allow it to deliver more range in a single charge by using a smaller battery.

Lucid Lunar robotaxi concept

Photo by: Suvrat Kothari

The Lunar will be able to add 200+ miles of range in just 15 minutes of charging, so it can spend more time ferrying passengers and less time plugged in. We already know that the midsize platform will use an 800-volt architecture, which should enable the blistering charging speeds. The Gravity, too, can add about 200 miles of range in around 12 minutes of charging on a 350-kilowatt station.

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We don’t know if the Lunar will ever enter production. The company is focused on bringing its midsize EVs to market right now and adding higher levels of automated driving capability to those models, while also entering the ride-hail market through its partnership with Uber and Nuro. If those programs succeed, the Lunar might have a real shot at taking on the Tesla Cybercab, which also hasn't hit volume production yet.

Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com