Even before its first cars arrive at showrooms, electric vehicle automaker Lucid is making its presence felt. Recently, the company announced new studios in California where customers could immerse themselves in the brand and configure their vehicles. Now, the marque has crucially completed the first phase of construction of its Lucid AMP-1 (Advanced Manufacturing Plant) factory based in Casa Grande, Arizona.

The factory will produce the Lucid Air luxury sedan, with the first production cars planned to be manufactured there in spring 2021. Lucid says that this is the first greenfield EV factory to be built in the USA. Over 60 sites in 13 states were considered before the Arizona location was chosen.

Initially, the factory will have a capacity of 30,000 units but this will eventually expand to a capacity of 400,000. The next phase of expansion is set to begin early next year as part of a "Future Ready" approach. In 2023, the brand's first SUV will be produced here; it's currently referred to as Project Gravity.

"We broke ground on the 590-acre Lucid AMP-1 site in Casa Grande, Arizona, on December 2, 2019," said CEO Peter Rawlinson. "Slightly less than a year later, we have completed the first purpose-built EV factory in North America."

Lucid has already completed the manufacturing of a full beta prototype test fleet at the factory in preparation for production cars to be built. The company's ultra-modern production processes include the replacement of spot welds with a riveted and bonded monocoque body structure which is said to be inspired by aircraft. Currently, the facility measures 999,000 square feet, but this will balloon to 5.1 million square feet by the time all four phases of construction are completed in 2028.

Initially, the Lucid Air Dream Edition will be built before being joined by the Grand Touring and Touring trims, while the entry-level Air Pure will follow early in 2022 at a more attractive price; after the Federal Tax Credit is taken into account, this model will undercut its chief rival, the Tesla Model S.