Lucid customers expose a major leasing issue
Leasing a new car offers several advantages, such as the potential for lower monthly costs and the chance to drive a nicer, more upscale vehicle. However, one pitfall involves the potentially prohibitive costs associated with wear and tear at the conclusion of the lease period. Although your leased vehicle may look perfect at a glance, manufacturers could uncover cosmetic or other issues that could result in a fat bill, and many Lucid EV lessees are finding this out the hard way.
One particular Lucid customer shared the excess wear and tear costs associated with their vehicle on Reddit, and the total is a jaw-dropping $7,600. It’s the latest in a string of high Lucid lease costs, and the EV maker has already responded to the complaints.
Related: The Simple Formula Behind Car Lease Payments (and How to Check Any Quote in Seconds)
Almost $5,000 For a Taillight Replacement
The lessee of this particular Lucid Air sedan said their car had never been abused or neglected, inferring that any defects are as a result of normal use on normal roads. The first red flag from the excess wear form is for a front bumper replacement, worth $2,400. The report indicates a one-inch crack, 10 small rock chips, and a one-inch scratch, which were deemed severe enough to necessitate the replacement of the entire front bumper.
The $100 charge for the left taillight left the lessee confused, as they could find no issue with this part. The only charge the driver deems fair is $200 for a damaged left front wheel.
By far the most outrageous charge is for a replacement of the right rear signal lamp at an eye-opening $4,900. The driver claims this is due to an inner hairline crack along the glue line which isn’t visible unless you zoom in, and the recommended replacement comes even though the part is fully functional.
After numerous complaints, the customer only succeeded in getting the total bill reduced to $6,200, but with no detailed feedback on the charged items or an expert opinion on the high cost for the rear signal lamp.
Related: Lucid Sales Are on the Rise. But Is It Fast Enough?
Nightmare Lucid Lease Costs Not Isolated
Ryan Brackin
The thread on Reddit proves that exorbitant wear and tear costs on Lucid EVs are common. Lucid is aware of the damage these costs are doing to its reputation, so has sent an email to customers to acknowledge it and announce a review to lease-end charges.
“We sincerely apologize for any frustration or inconvenience you may have experienced,” said the letter from Lucid. “Your feedback has made it clear that, in some cases, our communication, inspection, and billing processes did not meet the standards of transparency and fairness that we hold ourselves to.”
The letter further states that underbody plate scratches and any scratches of under 3.5 inches on the car’s body will no longer attract charges. Wheel scrapes under 3.5 inches will no longer incur a fee, and wheel scrapes of between 3.5 and 12 inches are now subject to a reduced charge of $200. Any interior stain of under 3.5 inches won’t be charged for, either.
Final Thoughts
Lucid
Lucid is still a young company building its image, and it simply can’t afford a continued flood of issues related to lease-end costs. With several smaller models in the pipeline, these lease costs could be a complete turnoff for consumers in more price-sensitive segments; up until now, only the pricey Air and Gravity are offered by the automaker, and the clientele for these models may very well be more likely to brush off high lease-end costs.
According to one commenter, BMW typically ignores normal scratches and dents unless they’re serious, as the brand is more interested in retaining loyal customers at the conclusion of a lease. This is backed up by BMW’s lease return policy, which states that dents, scuffs, or scratches two inches or less will not attract charges.
Fortunately, it appears Lucid is taking steps to address the concerns and align itself more closely with luxury automakers that have been in the game for longer.
