Lucid Motors plans to add Android Auto to its Gravity model around September, according to the company’s head of software engineering, Jean-Philippe Gauthier. A timeline for the integration in the Lucid Air sedan remains unconfirmed, but the automaker aims to bring the feature to that model around the same time.
Gauthier, who also serves as interim vice president of digital following Michael Bell’s resignation last summer, told the media outlet TopSpeed that the company has submitted Gravity’s platform for certification by Google.
Bell, who previously led Lucid’s digital efforts, joined chemical science company Chemify as chief technology officer in February, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The process typically takes at least six months, but it could take longer due to the newness of Lucid’s system, according to the executive.
Lucid chose to support projection platforms such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the Gravity, rather than building a fully native infotainment system. The company sees projection apps as a way to extend the relevance of its digital interfaces over time, even as over-the-air updates continue to evolve.
Lucid’s interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said recently that customer deliveries of the Gravity SUV in the U.S. would begin by the end of the month. The company delivered some units to employees and their families and friends in the last days of 2024.
Last year, Google introduced native in-car video streaming for Android Auto, allowing access to services such as YouTube and Netflix while the vehicle is parked.
Benchmark analyst Mickey Legg reiterated last week a $5.00 price target on the EV stock citing new momentum in market share gains over Elon Musk’s impact on Tesla’s brand image but also potential upside from tech licensing.
Despite a slight miss on first-quarter vehicle deliveries the analyst also reaffirmed a Buy rating on the stock.
Lucid delivered 3,109 vehicles for the first quarter, just under Benchmark’s forecast of 3,212 units. Production totaled 2,212 vehicles, with more than 600 units currently in transit for assembly at the company’s Saudi Arabian facility.
March was Lucid’s strongest U.S. sales month on record, with 942 vehicles sold, according to Motor Intelligence estimates. First-quarter U.S. sales reached approximately 2,412 units.