Lucid Motors (LCID) has made headlines by challenging Tesla (TSLA) in the luxury electric vehicle (EV) market, even leveraging Elon Musk’s own AI to settle the debate over which brand offers the best luxury EV. In a bold move, Lucid posed the question to AI models, including Musk’s Grok, asking for confirmation of the top luxury EV, and received a response favoring the 2025 Lucid Air.
Despite Lucid’s long-standing assertion that Tesla is not its primary competitor, the two companies find themselves frequently compared within the high-end market. Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, has noted an increasing trend of Tesla customers opting for Lucid vehicles. In a late September interview with the Financial Times, Winterhoff stated that the company has observed a marked increase in buyers trading in their Tesla models for the Lucid Air and the new Gravity SUV. He remarked, “We have seen an uptick, that’s definitely the case, in Europe and also here in the US. The Model S, nothing has changed in 12 years now,” indicating a shift in consumer preferences.
The provocative social media campaign included a video where Lucid asked AI models, including ChatGPT and Copilot, to identify the best luxury EV. The consensus among these advanced systems pointed to the 2025 Lucid Air. Musk’s Grok highlighted its superior efficiency and acceleration, stating, “The 2025 Lucid Air emerges as the overall leader. It excels in efficiency and acceleration, with a serene, high-end cabin.”
The 2025 Lucid Air Pure is noted as the world’s most efficient car, boasting an EPA-estimated 5 miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh). In terms of technology, Lucid vehicles are equipped with a striking 34-inch Glass Cockpit display, significantly larger than Tesla’s options, which range from 15.4 inches for the Model 3 and Model Y to 17 inches for the Model S and X. Tesla also includes an 8-inch display in its newer models, while Lucid features a 12.5-inch Pilot Panel touchscreen for climate control.
Although Tesla holds the first-mover advantage in the luxury EV segment, Lucid is rapidly closing the gap. The Lucid Air has recently surpassed the Tesla Model Y to become the best-selling luxury electric sedan in the United States for 2023. As production of the Gravity SUV ramps up, Lucid expects it to significantly contribute to overall sales in the latter half of the year. The Gravity was launched in Europe last month and the first models were delivered in Canada on October 11, 2023, marking Lucid’s expansion beyond the U.S. market.
With the luxury EV market becoming increasingly competitive, consumers are left to ponder whether the Lucid Air truly represents the pinnacle of luxury and efficiency. As Lucid continues to innovate and attract former Tesla customers, the question of which brand reigns supreme remains open for debate.