Lucid’s (LCID) $50,000 midsize EVs will offer ‘mind-off’ Level 4 autonomy

After securing a new partnership, Lucid Motors (LCID) said it plans to offer the industry’s first “mind-off” Level 4 autonomous EVs powered by NVIDIA.

Lucid plans to offer mind-off L4 autonomous EVs

Lucid launched its first internally developed advanced driver assistance system, DreamDrive Pro, in the Lucid Air in 2021.

Over the past few years, the ADAS system has evolved, gaining new features and capabilities. Most recently, it introduced hands-free driving and lane-change capabilities via a software update released in June.

Lucid said the new capabilities offer a glimpse of what’s to come. The company said today’s landmark initiative puts it on track to offer Level 4 autonomous EVs.

Through its new collaboration, Lucid plans to deliver the “first Level 4 autonomous EVs for Consumers with NVIDIA. Lucid will integrate NVIDIA’s DRIVE AV into its upcoming midsize EV models to unlock the new capabilities.

Lucid will use two NVIDIA DRIVE AGX THOR computers with NVIDIA DriveOS for the midsize lineup. The setup will unify all automated driving functions under one centralized architecture, enabling “seamless evolution.”

The company will begin with eyes-on, point-to-point driving (L2++) for the Gravity SUV. Lucid said it aims to offer “the first true eyes-off, hands-off, and mind-off (L4) consumer-owned autonomous vehicle” in its midsize lineup, which is due to enter production later next year.

Lucid will also use NVIDIA’s Industrial platform and Omniverse to cut costs, improve manufacturing efficiency, and ultimately, speed up deliveries.

Its new partnership with NVIDIA marks “a pivotal step,” Lucid said on Tuesday, as it embraces a new era of software-driven manufacturing.

Lucid told Electrek last year that it plans to launch three midsize EVs on the platform, starting at around $50,000. The first will be a crossover SUV, followed by a more rugged version, while the third is rumoured to be a midsize sedan to go head-to-head with the Tesla Model 3.

We got our first glimpse of the crossover last September after Lucid teased the front end in a blurry photo. The latest gives us a closer look at what appears to be a Tesla Model 3-like silhoutte.