Lucid Gravity Goes Mainstream with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
The final barrier to the purchase of the new Lucid Gravity for many has been removed by the EV maker, which is now offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment on its new all-electric SUV.
Good news if you own one of the estimated 1,800 to 2,000 Gravity models already delivered, an over-the-air update with the software is going out March 12 so you can stop regretting your purchase of the Gravity without these infotainment mainstays.
Unless you live in the Middle East or Europe, the updates won’t happen until later this month.
"Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are two of the most sought-after features by our customers," said Emad Dlala, SVP of Engineering and Software at Lucid. "We are now providing a seamless connection between mobile devices and the Lucid Gravity. We're excited to introduce these features to Lucid Gravity, which now offers even greater comfort and convenience for owners."
Making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available is just the latest in a slew of updates in Lucid’s “software-defined vehicles,” officials noted. The company’s sent out OTAs improving the cabin experience, access, infotainment responsiveness — a longtime complaint for Lucid owners — and other new features including a “See Through Vehicle” display.
The new additions come at no cost to owners. There is no word on if or when the Lucid Air sedan will also get the update. Also no word on if Lucid will offer Apple CarPlay Ultra at some point in the future. That version allows the user to customize the entire user interface. It’s available on just a few brands — Aston Martin, Hyundai, and Kia — at the moment.
Now if the Lucid folks could just talk with Mary Barra.
[Images: Lucid]
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Michael Strong has spent more than 25 years writing about the automotive industry. A Detroit-area native, he’s written about everything from local car shows to product reviews to financial news. Currently he writes and edits for a variety of national and local publications. He’s also a longtime member of the Automotive Press Association and the International Motor Press Association, and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Hail Southern! Despite a love for ’70s land yachts and BMWs from the late ’80s and early ’90s, his personal vehicle is neither of those.
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So you're telling me a six-figure EV was initially released without something that comes on the most basic of vehicles built today? Whoever decided that was a good idea should have been tarred and feathered in the boardroom.
But its still an EV, so no thanks.
I will keep an eye on these vehicles, that will be driven, sort of, by people playing on their embedded cellphones instead of watching where they are going. Distracted driving kills, and I do not want to be one of their victims.