A camouflaged Lucid Cosmos prototype was photographed on Highway 101 in Morgan Hill, California, about 40 miles south of Lucid’s Newark headquarters. The photos show the midsize SUV’s sloping roofline, rear spoiler, and flush door handles, consistent with the design Lucid registered in Europe in June.
The sighting comes two months after Lucid pushed the Cosmos launch to the second half of 2027. The company announced the sub-$50,000 SUV in March with a 69 kWh battery, 300 miles of range, and claimed efficiency of 4.5 miles per kWh. New CEO Silvio Napoli said Lucid would not repeat past mistakes of launching before products were ready.
Lucid needs the Cosmos to become a volume seller, but the timing is tight. The company cut 18% of staff in June, saw its stock drop 40% in July after a bankruptcy report it denied, and says its liquidity lasts well into 2027. Rivian’s R2, with a $45,000 base version, is due around the same time. Electrek’s take: the delay is sensible, but the cash runway and competition make the launch window precarious.