Lucid Addresses Air Issues Following Engineering Explained Criticism

Lucid responds to criticism of the Air after Engineering Explained review, outlining software fixes, hardware changes, and future updates. Read the full context.

Lucid Motors found itself under an uncomfortable spotlight after sharp criticism from Jason Fenske, the creator of the popular Engineering Explained YouTube channel. His video detailing life with a leased 2025 Lucid Air Touring quickly gained more than a million views, turning a personal ownership experience into a broader test of the brand’s credibility.

Fenske, long known as an admirer of Lucid’s engineering approach, struck a very different tone this time. In his video, he outlined a combination of software glitches and hardware shortcomings that, taken together, made the Air feel far less polished than expected. Some issues were serious, others seemingly minor, but their cumulative effect painted a picture of a car still struggling to meet its own ambitions.

According to Fenske, Lucid reached out shortly after the video went live. The company admitted it was not satisfied with its current position and acknowledged that internal changes were already underway. Several fixes were either implemented or promised, including the resolution of a software update bug, improvements to plug-and-charge reliability, and a correction for a fault that caused the rear heated seats to activate unintentionally.

Lucid also confirmed plans for a more comprehensive user-interface overhaul, known as UX 3.0, which is expected to arrive in the fall. Hardware issues were not ignored either. The automaker said it is developing a solution for a front trunk that sometimes fails to open properly, and it agreed that the cupholder design is flawed, with a revised version planned for the first half of 2026. The push-to-open door mechanism, another point of criticism, was described as a compromise rather than part of the original design intent.

One issue, however, remains largely unresolved. Fenske has been particularly critical of the driver-profile system, citing the awkward placement of the biometric scanner and the lack of easy profile switching. Lucid explained that its Android-based software architecture makes this more complex than in rival systems, suggesting that meaningful changes are unlikely in the near term.

Despite the fixes already delivered and those still promised, Fenske remains unconvinced. With roughly two and a half years left on his lease, he says he is currently leaning toward returning the car rather than keeping it. The episode highlights a broader challenge for emerging EV manufacturers: while problems can be addressed through updates and revisions, regaining the confidence of technically savvy owners may take considerably longer.