Lucid Activates Hands-Free Highway Driving for Air Sedans on 30 July

Lucid Group said it will begin pushing an over-the-air software update on 30 July that activates hands-free highway driving and automated lane changes on Lucid Air sedans equipped with the optional DreamDrive Pro package. The system, which relies on 32 sensors including lidar, radar and cameras, requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road and works only on compatible divided highways. The update introduces two new features—Hands-Free Drive Assist and Hands-Free Lane Change Assist—placing Lucid alongside Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla in offering hands-free capability in the United States. Owners of the forthcoming Gravity SUV will receive the functions later this year, the Newark, California-based company said. DreamDrive Pro costs about US$2,500 and is installed in a subset of Lucid’s roughly 20,000 vehicles delivered since 2021. Lucid said additional automated-driving enhancements are planned through future software releases as it seeks to differentiate its luxury EVs in an increasingly crowded market.