Lucid expands credit line from top investor by $1.75 billion amid turnaround

(Reuters) – Lucid Group said on Monday a $1.75 billion increase in a loan facility from Saudi Arabia’s Public ​Investment Fund (PIF), its largest investor, would help fund the ‌electric-vehicle maker into the fourth quarter of 2027.

The larger delayed-draw term loan lifts the company’s pro forma liquidity to $3.75 billion, strengthening new CEO Silvio Napoli’s hand ​as he seeks to turn around the company facing an ​industry-wide demand weakness following the expiry of a federal ⁠tax credit last year.

The EV maker said it expects its liquidity ​to fund operations until production of its midsize vehicle begins in the ​second half of 2027.
The company’s shares were down about 5% in extended trading.

Lucid cut its third-quarter cash outflow to $1.04 billion from $1.48 billion in the previous quarter by ​cutting production, including eliminating a second shift at its Arizona factory ​and reducing inventory and operating costs.

“These actions are already showing through in Q3, ‌with ⁠free cash flow consumption 30% lower sequentially,” CFO Alexander De Bock said.

Lucid said it would provide 2027 guidance and a mid-term plan with its year-end results. It had withdrawn its annual production forecast earlier ​this year amid ​a sweeping operational ⁠review by its newly appointed CEO.

The company said headcount fell about 28% between the first and third ​quarters. It said it had achieved $800 million of a ​targeted $1.4 ⁠billion cash flow improvement this year through lower inventory, operating costs and capital spending.

New chief technology, finance, customer and transformation officers joined early in ⁠the ​third quarter, the company said. Lucid is ​also cutting management layers and tying incentives to four priority projects.