Next Tesla - the Lucid Air? Does it make any sense for Tesla to purchase Lucid?

[calisnow]

With the news that Lucid is either seeking a buyout or has been approached - would it make sense for Tesla to purchase them and build the Air itself, saving on development costs for an ultraluxury sedan? Or does that make zero sense whatsoever?

 

[brkaus]

Zero sense (IMHO). No parts in common with existing Tesla cars. Factory already full.

 

[BluestarE3]

Some other automaker may want instant EV credibility by buying an existing electric car to save on development costs and to get a leg up on competition, but Tesla doesn't need that and doesn't need to muddle up their product line. So, no, I can't see that happening.

 

[whitex]

That makes no sense whatsoever. If Lucid had a functional production+supply pipeline setup to make 500,000 cars per year, maybe there would be something for Tesla in it, but buying a prototype that uses totally different systems than Tesla's other cars gives Tesla nothing but headaches.

 

[calisnow]

Okay - this was a dumb idea. My only regret is that in a few hours hundreds of people will realize I had it.

 

[Saghost]

I thought I read that Lucid was started by former Tesla employees, so presumably buying it would have some awkward moments on both sides...

 

[luckyj]

Might make non-zero sense to buy it and then bury it though

 

[ccdisce]

Might make non-zero sense to buy it and then bury it though

If the ability to earn ZEV credits can be transferred to the company buying them and the 200,000 fed $7500 tax relief to the car buyers then it may be worth a few bucks to buy it and bury it along with the Lucid badge. Lucid may be required to sell the first one to start dipping into the credit(s) pool.
w.

 

[Viking1]

I'm thinking Apple. They need a BIG new product and the Apple watch was not that product.

 

[Carl]

Well, Morgan has been around for 107 years, makes around 1300 cars a years (with 170 or so employees) for a very small niche market, so there's not necessarily anything wrong with that. Perhaps that's even more true, and easier, in the EV age where you can just build a beautiful sports and/or luxury car around the battery and drivetrain you buy from LG Chem or so. In that respect we may be back to the early 20th century!

Perhaps no benefit to Tesla to buy Lucid Air (although, @calisnow, there's nothing stupid about the idea - there must be good engineers there!), but I'm sure others (probably Chinese) will want to keep the Lucid Air concept alive.

 

[MXWing]

Okay - this was a dumb idea. My only regret is that in a few hours hundreds of people will realize I had it.

Salute for owning up to your idea.

Refreshing to practically everyone else who doubles down on stupid when called out on poor choices.