Executive shake-up continues at Lucid as European boss leaves

Lucid Motors has announced another vital leadership change with the departure of Alexander Lutz, its Managing Director for Europe. His departure adds to a growing list of executive exits from Lucid, marking the ninth senior departure in just 14 months.

Lutz took on the role only in December last year after leading Polestar’s operations in Italy. He exits the company after just one year. His leave comes weeks after he outlined Lucid’s European strategy in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. He highlighted key milestones for the brand in Europe, including the Q1 2025 debut of the ultra-luxury Air Sapphire, the release of the Gravity SUV, and the anticipated 2027 launch of a midsize model.

Rawlinson is the best-paid auto boss

Lawrence Hamilton, former Managing Director of Genesis Motor Europe, will oversee these ambitious European plans. Hamilton officially assumed the role in December 2024 and has extensive experience with brands like Daewoo, Mazda, and Hyundai.

The executive shuffle is part of a broader pattern at Lucid. Over the past year, the company has seen two board members, several senior vice presidents, and multiple vice presidents from departments like marketing, software development, and quality control leave.

Its CEO, Peter Rawlinson, also made the news recently, as he topped the ranking of the best-paid bosses among car brands based on the numbers from 2023. With a wage of 30.2 million dollars, he earned 3.6 million dollars more than Mary Barra from General Motors—though his paycheck plummeted from a staggering 380 million dollars the year before.

Gravity SUV rolls off the line

While the executive shake-up makes headlines, the start-up of luxury EVs also achieved a new production milestone. In July, after pre-production models were built for its Gravity electric SUV, Lucid confirmed that the first customer-ready models have now rolled off the production line at its Casa Grande facility in Arizona.

The Gravity is Lucid’s second production model, following the Air sedan. The SUV aims to challenge established players like Tesla, Rivian, and BMW in the growing electric SUV market. Boasting an impressive 710-km driving range and abundant cargo space, the Gravity is a versatile and luxurious family-friendly option.

In Europe, the sales success remains modest. Registration data reveal that in November, only 42 vehicles were registered in the Netherlands, where Lucid has installed its European headquarters. Germany saw slightly better performance, with 116 vehicles registered, buoyed by a rental fleet deal with Sixt.

Year-to-date, Lucid’s German registrations have increased 304% compared to 2023, totaling 372 vehicles. Though the company depends largely on the launch of its midsize EV, slated for 2026, Alexander Lutz’s departure might illustrate its struggle to execute its European strategy.