T he P inal Coun T y Press Lucid Motors Restructuring Cuts Nearly 1,000 CG Jobs

Lucid Motors, which is Casa Grande’s largest employer, has let go nearly 1,000 local employees as part of a restructuring plan “in response to evolving business needs and productivity improvements.”

The Bay Area-based producer of luxury electric vehicles said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission the layoffs would affect approximately 18% of its worldwide workforce and nearly all levels of employees would be affected, including executives.

CEO Peter Rawlinson said in a letter to employees March 28 that everyone losing their job would be notified in the following three days. He also said, “We would not have the best EV on the market without the collective efforts of all of our teams, which is a direct result of your tremendous perseverance, resourcefulness, and teamwork. I want to express my deep personal gratitude to everyone who has contributed up to this point and to the teams that will help advance our mission going forward.”

The initial SEC filing on March 27 indicated about 1,300 positions were being eliminated in the restructuring plan, without stating how many would be coming out of the advanced manufacturing plant, or AMP-1, at 317 S. Thornton Rd.

An updated WARN notice about the layoffs submitted to the Arizona Department of Economic Security four days later said 968 employees in Pinal County were affected.

Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland said Lucid had about 3,000 employees at the factory before the layoffs and remains the city’s largest employer, while newer arrivals are beginning to ramp up hiring, with Kohler hiring up to 400 to produce bath and shower products at its plant and more companies coming in.

Continued on page 52

Stories by Blake Herzog