Andy Nurman
January 25, 2024
Electric vehicle maker Lucid Group has announced a major expansion of its U.S. manufacturing facility, Lucid AMP-1, adding around 3 million square feet of space. The expanded plant will support increased production capacity ahead of the company’s upcoming electric SUV, the Lucid Gravity.
The newly expanded AMP-1 plant now spans over 3.85 million total square feet and brings key manufacturing processes like stamping in-house. Lucid states the extra space and vertical integration will improve quality, flexibility, and efficiency.
This news comes just two years after Lucid first opened AMP-1, which was the first dedicated EV factory built from the ground up in North America. AMP-1 originally opened to produce the Lucid Air luxury sedan, which began customer deliveries in late 2021.
“The expansion of our manufacturing footprint in Arizona is a significant milestone for the company, as we prepare for the next phase of Lucid’s growth,” said Lucid CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson.
What’s Inside the Expanded Lucid Manufacturing Plant?
The recently expanded Lucid AMP-1 plant includes:
- A new 3 million square foot general assembly facility
- New quality and semi-knock down (SKD) centers
- Expanded body, paint, and logistics shops
- A relocated and enlarged powertrain facility to build Lucid’s proprietary electric drive units
- One of the most advanced automotive stamping facilities globally
Lucid states the new stamping facility will enable improved quality control, flexibility, and cost reductions. Stamping operations are scheduled to come online at AMP-1 later in 2024.
“In just a few short years, the Lucid team has evolved our manufacturing footprint into one of the few highly integrated electric vehicle manufacturing plants in the U.S.,” said Steven David, Lucid’s Senior VP of Operations.
The expanded plant further cements Lucid’s position as a leader in EV technology and manufacturing. Lucid has also partnered with local Arizona authorities to develop homegrown talent and provide workforce training.
Customer deliveries of the Lucid Air sedan continue to rollout to the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Middle East from AMP-1. The company’s new electric SUV, the Gravity, is expected to enter production at the plant in the near future.
Our Thoughts
Few could call the gracefully sculpted Gravity anything but beautiful. Its uncluttered interior would meet the expectations of luxury buyers, with glass cockpit displays and a clean, modern aesthetic. Lucid also claims it will be one of the quickest and longest-range electric SUVs ever produced, with a 0-60 mph time under 3.5 seconds and over 400 miles of driving range.
While the Gravity’s lofty price means Lucid isn’t aiming for a mass-market crowd, it sets its sights squarely on brands like Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and Bentley with sustainability and technology as killer differentiators.
