The entire Lucid adventure has been fascinating to watch — at least, it’s been fascinating if you’re not a shareholder. Every car company now claims to have at least a few ex-Tesla engineers on the roster, but Lucid can claim to have probably the most important ex-Tesla employee as its founder and former-CEO, Peter Rawlinson.
Unsurprisingly, the two Lucid vehicles for sale are arguably the best electric cars in their respective classes. It doesn’t matter. Building cars is hard. Building electric cars is harder, no matter what anyone pretends, and Lucid has yet to be able to get all the pieces to work together, resulting in a $1 billion loss for the quarter and suspended production guidance.
After crowing a lot about the threat of Chinese automakers, Ford is reportedly going to agree to sell part of one of its plants in Spain to a Chinese automaker. In Canada, Honda is predictably abandoning its EV production entirely.
Did you know it’s V6 Day? It’s apparently V6 Day.
Lucid Suspends Production Guidance For This Year
I went to Lucid’s big Investor Day in March, and the basic vibe the company was trying to impart was that it had a long-term plan for viability. Not everything was exactly the way they wanted it, but the addition of the Lucid Gravity and, eventually, its more affordable mid-sizer, would be enough to reach something that looked like profitability by the end of the decade.
If you existed in a vacuum and just drove the cars, that wouldn’t seem like so remote a possibility. There’s a large portfolio of EVs for sale in the United States, which might make you think we have a lot of great choices. That’s not quite true. There are lots of good choices, but few truly great ones.
If you’re one of those people who is an FSD true believer, you might argue that the Tesla Model S is better than the Lucid Air purely because of Tesla’s ADAS advantage. I’m not one of those people. That argument aside, in almost every other way the Lucid Air is a better car. In pure engineering terms, the Lucid Gravity is also, arguably, the best three-row crossover/SUV anyone sells.
That’s not enough. Technical greatness doesn’t equal sales, and even offsetting the Model S in the full-size EV sedan space isn’t enough to make the kind of money necessary to spin off a bunch of product lines.
With the Gravity out the door, Wall Street was looking for the company to make about $440 million and only lose the equivalent of about $2.64 per share. By those measures, Q1 was a big miss, with a loss per share of $3.46, and revenue of $282.5 million. Overall, the company lost $989,485, which rounds uncomfortably to $1 billion.
It gets worse, as CNBC points out:
Lucid Group suspended its vehicle production guidance for the year as its incoming CEO evaluates the all-electric vehicle manufacturer’s business operations, including the potential for lower output of EVs.
The company on Tuesday also said it needs to lower its “elevated inventory” of vehicles, which for automakers has historically meant decreasing or idling vehicle production.
Lucid cannot tell you exactly how many cars it’ll build or sell. Much of this has to do with a rough recall of every single Gravity due to a supplier issue involving a seat belt anchor. Will Lucid catch up later this year when the recall issue is fully resolved, or this just masking slacking demand? Can Lucid get its smaller, more affordable car out of the factory in time to compete with the R2, Model Y, I3X and every other car in that class?
Again, no one can question the engineering capabilities of Lucid, but that’s not enough. Building, marketing, selling, and delivering cars is complicated, and having a great car is only the start. Being a successful automaker means doing everything right, and that’s not been possible for Lucid yet. Of course, that was also true for Tesla at the beginning, but Tesla had no real competition.
Most companies wouldn’t be able to survive this, and Lucid continues to be a there-but-for-the-grace-of-the-Saudi-Public-Investment-Fund-goes-I operation. So far, it seems like Saudi Arabia would rather keep its electric automaker than its alternative golf business.
Ford Is Reportedly Going To Sell Part Of Its Spanish Operations To Geely
For all of the warnings about Chinese automakers coming to the United States, Ford seems willing to assist in the expansion of Chinese automakers in Europe. Sources have told Spain’s La Tribuna de Automoción that the empty Body 3 Complex at Ford’s Valencia plant is likely to be sold to Geely.
This vehicle, internally codenamed 135 , would feature three powertrain options (self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric) thanks to its GEA (Global Intelligent Electric Architecture) platform. This multi-energy, modular platform allows for the development of models ranging from compact cars to higher-segment vehicles. Furthermore, the same sources indicate that negotiations are also underway to explore the possibility of producing a vehicle for Ford based on this same architecture.
Ford used to make the Kuga at Body 3, but it’s since been mothballed. Nothing has been finalized, so it might not happen, though this has long been rumored to be happening and makes sense for Ford.
Honda Kills Canadian EV Plant Plans
Canada might soon become a more competitive market for electric cars, especially now that Chinese-built cars will be sold there in greater numbers. The United States is likely to become less competitive as automakers like Honda kill their EV ambitions, and it’s going to have knock-on effects in Canada.
As Nikkei Asia reports, Honda is officially abandoning its plans for an $11 billion EV plant in Canada that no longer made sense:
Honda had expected to invest a total of 15 billion Canadian dollars ($11 billion) in the EV plant, with a planned capacity of 240,000 vehicles a year, and the battery factory. It had acquired the land and was set to receive financial support from Canada.
The project aimed to capitalize on U.S. tax breaks on EV purchases included in the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 under then-President Joe Biden. But the incentives were scrapped in September under President Donald Trump, adding roughly 20% to the price of flagship Tesla EVs, for example.
The U.S. in December lowered average fuel economy requirements for automakers as well, allowing for targets to be met without making large quantities of EVs. Stalled trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa have added to the uncertainty.
Honda would be better off exporting one of its Chinese-built EVs to Canada at this point.
Happy V6 Day!
Nissan has made up a holiday called “V6 Day” to celebrate its re-commitment to the V6. There was a very special person at the big Nissan Z event this week in California, and Nissan even had a V6 Day cake!
“For decades, the V6 has been the beating heart of some of Nissan’s most iconic vehicles – delivering the durability, strength, and power our customers rely on,” said Christian Meunier, chairman, Nissan Americas. “From the speed and acceleration of our sports cars to the confident torque that defines our trucks and SUVs, the V6 offers a rare balance of performance and dependability. The V6 is close to my heart and the hearts of millions of American drivers. It will play an important role in our lineup for years to come, particularly with the return of the mighty Xterra.”
It’s 5/6, which means it’s V/6. Get it? GET IT?
You know what, Nissan has had a rough go of it lately, I’m gonna let them have this one. Happy V6 Day, Y’all!
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
I remember when t.A.T.u.’s “All The Things She Said” come out and the early Internet lost its minds. Most of it seems silly in retrospect. Anyway, this song was played both in Heated Rivalry and at my gym this morning, so I guess it’s having a moment.
The Big Question
What’s the best V6 of all time?
Top photo: Lucid
Lucid’s problems can be easily solved by a trillion dollar incentive package. Not sure how they didn’t think of it.
Lucid attracts people at malls that want to spend about half what a gravity is going for. They like it, even impressed by it, are shocked they can charge it in their garage overnight. But the price is walk away money for them. Lucid is at least a premium maybe even luxury automaker. I think with the s and x you Tesla was. Then with the 3 and y sort of maybe. Now it’s really hard to say what they are. But 3 and y sell. That’s a big if not the biggest reason the make them and stopped s and x production.
Even the used airs with their massive depreciation sit on lots because it’s still just too much for what it is and few people are looking for them.
I’m not sure how you fix that. It’s a super high tech brand that most people have no idea exists. Other then they might have saw an ad or saw one at a mall. Most people understand what a rivian is at this point. Their adventure role keeps them away from being viewed as bleeding edge even if they sometimes are or were.
That was the true genius of the Tesla approach. One high end disposable car for another. Don’t buy the bmw or the merc buy the Tesla it’s higher tech and probably less disposable. But doesn’t really work for others now that merc and bmw exist in that space. Lucid is trying to exist in that space and that’s where most of their problems come from. I doubt the Saudis will let them exit from it even if they get do something more down market eventually.
One of the Geely factions already has done business with Ford via Volvo. So no shock Ford doesn’t see geely as as much of threat with how they handle Volvo, lotus, London taxi. They seem more interested in subsidizing their lower market China sales with premium foreign sales. But some of their commerical stuff or smart could be interesting. Or the geely branded cars and cuvs they are doing in Mexico. They just sort of blend in with everything else but they are cheaper and sell well.
If the Chinese ev brands can’t buy/bribe US politicians. If/when they want to expand in to the US mkt, I suspect they will, (like Geely), buyout a car brand thats not selling in big numbers in this matter like Volvo and keep just enough European cred to call it ‘European’*
or
(Geely again) create another brand from scratch ala Polestar, though this would be the harder path.
MG, Triumph, Jaguars, Austin, Healey, alfa, seat…
They will definitely find brands if they can’t make them or bring them in. They have done it with other industries before. Ironically a Chinese company focusing on one market might have the ip another needs to launch in the US or other western market. Chery excels at creating brands for export as well. They must have at least 10 brands.
SAIC has 6 defunct brands they got from mg Rover they are only using mg. Princess, Sterling, American Austin, Austin, and Morris could be winners. Make some Roewe or Maxus under one of those brands in eastern Europe or Mexico bring them to the us and confuse everyone.
The brand confusion is frustrating with lots of automakers taking advantage of people that simply while they could be smart dont realize nearly all the legacy ‘British’ auto brands* are for quite some time now foreign owned. Jaguar/LR/RR -> of course Tata motors, Rolls-Royce-> BMW, Mini -> BMW, Bentley-> VW, MG -> SAIC (to your point), Lotus -> now Geely, sadly even McLaren is now owned in parts by different middle east wealth funds, Aston Martin -> Lance Stroll and a couple other wealthy men, Morgan -> now owned by an Italian group, Caterham -> owned by a Japanese group
Radical may be the only vaguely known exceptions that are still locally owned
*to use one major heritage regional example…
“Overall, the company lost $989,485, which rounds uncomfortably to $1 billion.”
Might want to check this – that does seem like some very uncomfortable rounding lol.
Lucid should just focus on licensing tech abd call it a day. Expensive sedans and Beluga-shaped EV “suv” (read tall-ish minivan) won’t cut it.
This is a sad state for Lucid. It’s too bad, they really are pretty remarkable cars, but they are aiming for a niche that is too narrow.
Toyota 2GR-FE for durability. Mazda K series (like found in the MX-3) ‘cuz it’s just so darn small and cute.
Best V6 ever? – the Ford 3.0 SHO, the Yamahammer.
Has Lucid’s CEO tried taking drugs? Because that seems to have been helpful at other, successful, EV startups.
Also, best V6, GM 3800, especially when supercharged. Enjoy the competence
Worked for DeLorean.
I really hope that Lucid succeeds. But I don’t have the greatest hopes for them. I agree that some solid marketing would be helpful. But so would a better looking vehicle. How many people actually care about having the “best” vehicle versus what is perceived as the “best” in certain categories.
Best V6: Honda’s J series.
I hear these things love boost.
Lucid needs brighter colors, and a sales and promotion team that brings the cars to life. Mercedes Benz had a reputation as an engineering first car maker, but they also had dominate racing cars and some incredible styling – like the SSK and 300SL. Lucid has the engineering, but they need actual flavor to make sales.
Yes. But there are also lots of factors.
IMO financial problems are a death spiral; when early adopters don’t want to risk their money, your addressable market shrinks. Fisker has found this out. Owning a car from a new, cool, growing brand feels good. Owning one from a brand that might not survive the next year doesn’t.
Tesla had the benefit of a growing market, growing demand for EVs in general, and little competition. Lucid has none of those things.
I think the lack of colors is a huge deal. There’s a Lucid showroom next to my job, and I see quite a lot of them on the road because of that, but I never initially notice them unless I’m looking hard. My brain defaults to “probably a Camry or something” because they have that generic Toyota-ish silhouette and that generic Toyota-ish gray. They blend in extremely well. Too well.
Rivian did it right- they look like nothing else on the road and they come in ACTUAL COLORS that stand out from the crowd. You notice Rivians, and it gets you thinking about them, especially if you’re in that section of the market.
Was just thinking this, Lucid has pretty much no color options in their lineup. There’s a few Airs in my area and they’re all grey. I’m sure if they had a nice blue or red or green, they’d stand out more and maybe get more people wondering what car went by.
“What’s the best V6 of all time?”
I’ll nominate the Nissan VQ engine. It has been in production since 1994 and it has proven to be a solid engine for anything from a Frontier pickup truck to the GT-R (which has the VR engine… which is an evolution of the VQ).
The 4.3L V6 in my ’02 Silverado had literally 2/3 of the HP of the LS 5.3 (200 vs 300). If you believed the EPA, that was good for ONE more mpg, but in the real world the difference was less than that. But it was cheaper than the V-8, which made it the darling of fleet buyers.
All the power of an I4, with all the economy of a V8. My dad was so mad about his TrailBlazer
V6 day? Now I feel bad trashing V6s in the Shitbox showdown this morning. The only ones I’ve owned are the 2.9L in my 87 Ranger and the 3800 Series II in my 04 Impala. Both held up well to a lot of abuse. My main gripe is working on transverse mounted V6s.
I had inherited a ton of pirated music from a co-worker in the 2010’s when he left. All The Things She Said was in his archives and it was poorly ripped sometime in the early 2000’s. I know this because there are AOL Instant Messenger sounds throughout the music track. To this day, listening to that song sounds incomplete without the door opening/ closing sounds of AIM.
I’ll give Ford’s Cologne V6 a vote. It was around for 50 years in many guises and powered nearly everything. My old Capri was a sprightly little thing with this motor.
The power of 4 cylinders with the economy of 8. They might last forever but they are weak lumps.
V6 Day? I thought it was Revenge of the Sixth?
May the Fourth be with you.
The Alfa Romeo Busso. Absolutely glorious, and unlike the Ferrari V6, available in cars that mere mortals can afford. Clarkson nailed it – it makes sounds like “having your soul licked by angels”. I was privileged to own a GTV-6 and absolutely concur.
Lucid’s biggest problem is making a very expensive sedan in an (unfortunately) expensive SUV world. Though such a small company lighting a billion on fire in a single quarter is deeply impressive. Google sez they sold about 5K cars in Q4 ’25, so that’s about $200K per car sold. Hope that oil money keeps flowing. The Gravity may turn things around. Or not, given the slowdown in EV sales generally. An awful lot of choices at that level of the market whether powered by electrons, hydrocarbons, or both.
At any other point in my life I would have taken your word for it, but I just so happened to find myself around one of these cars on my drive home yesterday. It was a neat little car, and the sound was absolutely glorious.
The drive is pretty magic too. They aren’t crazy fast, even for the day, but they sure sound and feel fast, and they are a car that just eggs you on to go faster, and faster, and faster. Perfect balance, and they ride nicely too.
Modern cars are just far too sterile. You can’t have any fun until you are at license-shredding go-directly-to-jail speeds.
Another car I regret selling. I’ll never find another one as good for anything like what I paid for it. Though it needed more work than I had time for at the time.
Pretty car: https://flic.kr/p/8aaimS
I was going to post the first paragraph as the answer for the V6 question, but there’s no need to repeat.
I am also partial to my Honda J series. I have three of them, the newest being 17 years old, and they have yet to let me down. (other than a leaky valve cover gasket on one of them).
I gotta go with the Honda J35 as best V6*, with the Buick 3800 as runner-up due to its legendary reliability under the worst of conditions. The giant 60 degree GMC V6 from the sixties gets the Oddball Award.
*yes it has a timing belt and I’ll die on the hill that a well-designed, easy-to-change timing belt is better than the crappy unreliable, difficult-to-service timing chains on so many modern vehicles.
I’m sure there are some obscure European V6’s that are good, but my favorite V6 that I have experience with is the GM (Buick) 3.8.
N/A, turbo, or supercharged, they’re all great.
The Toyota 1GR 4.0 V6 gets an honorable mention. There’s not really anything pleasant about the experience, but they’re typically dead nuts reliable and can go 400, 500K no problem.
Coolest LOOKING sixer goes to the Yamaha in the Taurus SHO.
Coolest looking V6 are transverse applications for the V6 Busso (which incidentally also happens to be the greatest V6 engine ever made).
Cue the obscure European V6.
That’s just like your opinion, man.
In the same way that an engine that was in production for 26 years is obscure is also an opinion.
Man.
I’m going to say the best V6 of all time was the 2.8L V6 that was in my 86 Firebird. It was reliable and provided years of faithful (but not terribly powerful) service.
That said, the correct answer is probably a toss-up between the later GM 3800 and the Toyota 3.5L V6 (2GR-FE?).
The poor 2.8L doesn’t get a lot of love, but my family had a 2.8 car (87 Eurosport wagon) that was pretty solid. It went to the scrapper around 165K in the early ’00s for body rot, but the motor was still solid at that time. It had a cool, raspy sound to it a WOT, too.
I prefer the Yota 1GR (4.0) to the 2GR, the 2GR tq peak is like 1K rpm higher than the 1GR, which is already about 2K rpm too high as it is.
The car that Car & Driver described the motor as making a “pump motor groan”? Those Eurosport wagons sure looked cool though, especially in the beautiful blue they came in. The red waterline really set them off.
The GM MPFI 2.8/3.1 were solid, reliable powerplants. They also had a nice snarl.
Where’s the Nissan symbol of protest for the V-6? Up your game Nissan!
While I love the smooth and powerful V6 in my Mercedes-Benz, I’d say the best one is probably the Nissan VQ series or the Alfa Romeo Busso.
Meanwhile – Ford
can’twon’t/refuses to compete with the Chinese, so rather than develop or license/brand-engineer a small EV to sell in Europe, they decide to sell a disused plant (in a country which has incentives up to 7000 Euro to switch to EVs) to the Chinese to make it easier for them to get a solid hold in Europe?This makes no sense at all.
Ford deserves to die.
As far as Lucid: For a Billion Dollars they could have started a war in the Middle East to make the cost of fuel so expensive that people would decide to stop paying $6-7/gallon and drive electric instead. The Arabs have limitless money and a long-term outlook – and it’s a good thing they have financial control over Lucid, because if it were up to the US, Lucid would be dead by now.
Yeah and the SPIF has been walking back a lot of investments, so maybe don’t bet your company on their continued support. Who could’ve EVER seen that coming??