Lucid Motors brings Apple CarPlay to Gravity SUV

Lucid Motors announced on Wednesday morning that it is shipping a software update to North American owners of its Gravity SUV on Thursday. This over-the-air vehicle software release will enable Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the vehicles, allowing owners to use these phone-mirroring features. Owners of the Gravity SUV in Europe and the Middle East are scheduled to receive the same software update in late March, marking a broader geographic rollout for the vehicle’s updated software system. This update brings the SUV’s software capabilities in line with the company’s existing vehicle lineup, where these features were already present.

These phone-mirroring features have previously been available on Lucid Motors’ sedan model, the Lucid Air. However, the company has spent the early months of the newer Gravity SUV’s release addressing a series of software issues. These challenges became a significant enough crisis that Lucid Motors’ interim CEO issued an apology to vehicle owners. Alongside these software difficulties, the company recently let a number of its top software leaders go. This executive turnover was followed last month by a broader restructuring, in which Lucid Motors moved to lay off 12% of its workforce, a development first reported by TechCrunch.

The release of the software update coincides with an investor day that Lucid Motors is set to hold in New York City. During this event, the electric vehicle manufacturer plans to outline its future business strategies, including its path to profitability. The company is also set to discuss its upcoming future vehicle architecture, which the company refers to as its mid-size EV platform. Additionally, Lucid Motors plans to share details regarding the launch of its autonomous taxi service, which is being developed in partnership with ride-hailing company Uber and autonomous delivery company Nuro. This event provides an opportunity for the company to address its long-term growth plans directly with investors.

Why it matters

This software update is a critical step in stabilizing the Gravity SUV’s user experience following recent internal turmoil, while the investor day signals the company’s pivot toward long-term growth and autonomous partnerships.