Lucid Group, maker of the Air sedan and Gravity SUV, reported a 42% drop in first quarter sales to 3,093 vehicles. The company blamed a supplier issue with seats, which caused a 29-day production halt for its Gravity model.

In a securities filing, Lucid stated that although there was a dip in Q1, the issue has been resolved and they remain confident about meeting their production goals. Despite the setback, Lucid expects to build between 25,000 and 27,000 vehicles this year, up from 18,378 in 2025.

As Lucid gears up for a new lower-cost platform aimed at mass-market competition with Rivian R2 and the Tesla Model Y, these challenges highlight the complexities of scaling electric vehicle production. The recall of over 4,000 Gravity SUVs due to improperly welded seat belt anchors underscores the critical importance of quality assurance.

Lucid spokesperson Nick Twork emphasised that despite the recent hiccups, the company is on track for success, citing strong January and March results which nearly achieved year-over-year growth. The upcoming disruption event seems an apt backdrop for these industry dynamics to play out in a tech-centric arena.