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Lucid Group, Inc.

Company History

Lucid History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones

Founded 2007 in Newark, California

When was Lucid founded?

Lucid was founded in 2007 in Newark, California by Bernard Tse and Sheaupyng Lin, making it 19 years old.

Founded
2007
Founding place
Newark, California
Founders
Bernard Tse and Sheaupyng Lin
Headquarters today
Newark, California, United States
Milestones documented
12 (2007–2026)
Current CEO
Silvio Napoli
Acquisitions
1
YearEvent
2007Atieva Founded
2016Lucid Motors Identity
2018PIF Invests $1 Billion
2019Peter Rawlinson becomes CEO
2021Public Listing
2021Lucid Air Deliveries Begin
2023Aston Martin Technology Relationship
2024Gravity Production Begins
2025FY2025 Revenue of $1.354B
2026Silvio Napoli Becomes CEO
2026PIF and Uber Investment
2026Operational Reset
Where was Lucid founded?
Lucid was founded in Newark, California in 2007.
Who founded Lucid?
Lucid was founded by Bernard Tse and Sheaupyng Lin.
When did Lucid start?
Lucid was founded in 2007.
How old is Lucid?
Lucid is 19 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

Lucid started in 2007 as Atieva, a battery and electric powertrain supplier. In 2013 it hired Peter Rawlinson, previously chief engineer of the Tesla Model S, and the company shifted toward building its own luxury EV. It took the Lucid Motors name in 2016, secured more than $1B from Saudi Arabia's PIF in 2018, and began Lucid Air deliveries in 2021 after listing through a merger with Churchill Capital Corp IV.

Founders

Bernard Tse

Bernard Tse co-founded Atieva, the company that became Lucid, in 2007 and served as its first CEO. Atieva initially developed battery packs and electric powertrains for other vehicle makers before shifting to its own cars. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).

Sheaupyng Lin

Sheaupyng Lin co-founded Atieva (which later became Lucid Motors) in 2007. As a deep expert in battery chemistry, he originally founded the company explicitly to build highly advanced battery packs and powertrains for other automakers, successfully supplying the entire Formula E racing circuit before the company pivoted to building its own luxury cars. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).

Key Milestones

2007

Atieva Founded

The company began as a battery and electric drivetrain technology business.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2016

Lucid Motors Identity

Atieva rebranded around the Lucid Motors vehicle strategy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2018

PIF Invests $1 Billion

The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia agreed in September 2018 to invest more than $1 billion in Lucid.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2019

Peter Rawlinson becomes CEO

Peter Rawlinson became CEO of Lucid Group in 2019. Led development of the Lucid Air and Gravity and set the efficiency-first engineering culture.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2021

Public Listing

Lucid became a public company through a SPAC combination.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2021

Lucid Air Deliveries Begin

The Lucid Air entered customer deliveries and established the brand's efficiency-led positioning.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2023

Aston Martin Technology Relationship

Lucid announced a strategic technology relationship with Aston Martin.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2024

Gravity Production Begins

Lucid began production of the Gravity sport-utility vehicle in December 2024.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2025

FY2025 Revenue of $1.354B

Lucid reported $1.354B in revenue and delivered 15,841 vehicles.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2026

Silvio Napoli Becomes CEO

Silvio Napoli assumed the CEO role effective June 1, 2026.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
2026

PIF and Uber Investment

Lucid announced about $1.05B of new capital, including $550M from a PIF affiliate and $200M from Uber, and Uber raised its robotaxi commitment to at least 35,000 vehicles.

Source: ir.lucidmotors.com
2026

Operational Reset

With Q2 2026 results, Lucid announced an operational reset targeting about $1.4B of cash-flow improvements.

Source: ir.lucidmotors.com

Major Acquisitions

Nikola Corporation (Assets)

2025

Manufacturing facility and product development center.

Keep researching Lucid

Lucid Company History FAQ

What are the major historical milestones of Lucid Group from 2007 to today?

Key milestones include founding as Atieva (2007), battery breakthrough with 'Edna' (2016), rebranding to Lucid Motors (2016), $1B PIF investment (2018), building Arizona AMP-1 factory (2020), NASDAQ IPO (2021), first Air customer deliveries (2021), opening Saudi AMP-2 factory (2023), and unveiling the Gravity SUV (2023).

When did customer deliveries of the Lucid Air officially begin?

Customer deliveries of the Lucid Air officially commenced on October 30, 2021, with the delivery of the initial batch of 520 limited-edition Lucid Air Dream Edition models at a special inaugural customer event in California.

How did the Lucid Air win the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year award?

In November 2021, the Lucid Air won the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year award, marking the first time in automotive history that an initial production model from a brand-new automaker won the prestigious flagship automotive award.

When did Lucid open its first international assembly facility in Saudi Arabia?

In September 2023, Lucid officially opened its AMP-2 manufacturing facility in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Saudi Arabia, the first-ever automotive manufacturing plant in the kingdom, initially assembling semi-knocked-down (SKD) Lucid Air vehicles.

What was the significance of the 2023 Lucid Air Sapphire launch?

Launched in late 2023, the Lucid Air Sapphire introduced the world's first luxury electric super-sports sedan featuring a tri-motor powertrain producing 1,234 hp, setting production sedan lap records at Laguna Seca and Virginia International Raceway.

How did Lucid manage the global automotive supply chain crisis in 2021 to 2022?

Lucid navigated severe semiconductor, glass, and logistics shortages by redesigning internal circuit boards to accept alternative chips, insourcing supply logistics, and bringing critical component assembly directly into its Arizona plant.

When was the Lucid Gravity SUV unveiled to the public?

The Lucid Gravity SUV was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2023, showcasing a spacious three-row luxury cabin, 440+ miles of projected range, and ultra-high-efficiency electric motors, with customer deliveries scheduled for late 2024 and 2025.

What is Lucid's long-term vision for sustainable mobility and energy?

Lucid's long-term vision is to accelerate the global transition to sustainable transportation by producing the world's most energy-efficient luxury electric vehicles, democratizing its technology through accessible midsize platforms, and powering homes with clean energy storage.

How did Lucid start?

Lucid was founded in 2007 as "Atieva" by Bernard Tse (a former Tesla executive) and Sam Weng. Initially, they did not build cars; they were a highly elite battery technology company that supplied the massive, high-performance battery packs for the entire Formula E electric racing series. In 2016, they rebranded to Lucid Motors and aggressively pivoted to building their own ultra-luxury electric vehicles.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.