Lucid, the American premium electric vehicle (EV) maker, is reportedly preparing to enter the UK market, marking its attempt in the right-hand drive (RHD) market. According to Autocar, the debut model won’t be one of its current lineup, but a new crossover called the Cosmos, set to compete with cars like the BMW iX3, Mercedes GLC EQ, and Volvo EX60.
The Cosmos is expected to be unveiled later this year and is slated to arrive in the UK in 2027, with production set to begin at Lucid’s recently completed assembly plant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Lucid reportedly also plans to introduce the more off-road-focused Earth after the Cosmos in 2028, alongside a larger and more practical version of the Cosmos.
The Cosmos will be part of Lucid’s new range of “mid-size” models, built on the company’s 800V architecture. It will use smaller, more efficient electric motors than the brand’s current models, making it more affordable and suburban-friendly. Designed to appeal to the mainstream EV buyer, the Cosmos is positioned as a practical yet stylish alternative within Lucid’s more premium lineup.
Lucid has been present in the European market for over five years with the Air sedan and Gravity SUV. The UK entry marks a notable expansion, but don’t expect the same models to arrive anytime soon. Lucid Europe President, Lawrence Hamilton, explained that RHD conversions are challenging and require extensive redevelopment—unlike the Cosmos, which was designed with RHD markets in mind from the start.
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Speaking to Autocar, Hamilton said, “It’s a case of making sure we’ve got the right product for the market opportunity that exists.”
“To engineer Air and Gravity for right-hand drive is a big investment, and there has to be a return on that investment. The volume opportunity really exists with the mid-size cars,” he added.
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Hamilton noted there’s strong market appeal not only for more mainstream models like the Cosmos, but also for off-road-inspired vehicles such as the Earth, referencing the popularity of rugged premium cars like the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. “It’s a statement piece about the way people want to spend their time. And there’s obviously huge market demand for sleeker, sportier CUVs,” he added.
He also suggested that if the Cosmos performs well, it could generate the resources to bring models like the Air and Gravity to right-hand drive markets in the future. If Lucid’s RHD plans succeed, could we eventually see them in Malaysia? It would certainly be interesting for the country’s existing premium EV segment — not just Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but Tesla and Zeekr as well.
