Lucid Air Beta Prototype Body-Structure constructed in-house at the company’s Global Headquarters

Beta prototype body-structure construction of the Lucid Air has begun at Lucid Motors’ Silicon Valley headquarters.

These bodies are the very core of the 95% production-representative second-generation prototypes.

Constructed from aluminium and featuring a number of exciting technical innovations, these monocoque structures comprise occupant safety cells and crumple zones derived and optimised from intensive computer simulations.

Unlike many other vehicle manufacturers, Lucid has chosen to build the beta prototype body-structures in-house at its headquarters, allowing the company to simulate the semi-automated robotic processes representative of production intent. This collaborative effort between engineering and manufacturing teams provides greater learning and precision, while optimising the manufacturing process in advance of the company's future factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, which becomes operational next year.

The first beta prototypes are about to hit the test tracks with many more on their way, representing another major milestone towards production of the Lucid Air in late 2020.

Lucid's Casa Grande, Arizona, site is on track to begin production of the all-electric Lucid Air luxury sedan in late 2020 — roughly one year from now. Last month, the local Planning and Zoning Commission gave final approval of the multi-year master site plan. Land grading began in September, and crews are drilling and forming the caissons that will help form the structural foundation of the facility.

While factory construction continues, the first members of the Casa Grande assembly team are working alongside engineers at the Silicon Valley headquarters building the next generation of Lucid Air prototypes. This advance team includes recent graduates of the Automated Industrial Technology programme at Central Arizona College, a course of study which was co-developed by Lucid Motors. Early-stage collaboration like this strengthens the manufacturing team and allows them to quickly identify and address potential assembly challenges well before production starts.