Luxurious electric-vehicle maker Lucid Group stated Tuesday that it has begun testing its subsequent mannequin, a big SUV known as Gravity, on public roads within the U.S., a key milestone forward of the Gravity’s anticipated launch subsequent 12 months.

Lucid hasn’t but totally revealed the Gravity in production-spec trim. However the firm has stated that the Gravity may have seating for as much as seven folks, with “the driving dynamics of a sports activities automobile.” The inside will function new high-resolution shows powered by a brand new technology of Lucid’s proprietary software program working system, Lucid stated on Tuesday.

The Gravity is a vital product for Lucid. Whereas Lucid’s first car, the Air sedan, has impressed reviewers and gained a number of necessary {industry} awards, demand for the high-priced EV seems to have fallen effectively in need of Lucid’s inside expectations.

Shares have fallen about 30% since Lucid stated in February that it expects to construct simply 10,000 to 14,000 Airs in 2023, versus the 27,000 that Wall Avenue had anticipated. The inventory was hit once more in March, when Lucid minimize 18% of its workforce, about 1,300 staff.

CEO Peter Rawlinson stated in an announcement that improvement of the Gravity is driving additional developments of Lucid’s in-house software program and battery know-how.

“The Lucid Air redefined the sedan class, and as our know-how continues to evolve and lead the market, we’re in a spot the place the Gravity is positioned to vary the world of SUVs,” Rawlinson stated.

Lucid has promised that the Gravity may have larger electrical vary than any SUV at the moment in the marketplace. The brand new car will incorporate the superior batteries and charging methods developed by Lucid for its Air sedan, and is anticipated to debut with vary near the Air’s industry-leading 516 EPA-estimated miles in prime trim.

The Gravity’s seemingly electrical luxurious SUV rivals – Rivian‘s R1S, Tesla‘s Mannequin X, and the BMW iX – have most EPA-estimated ranges of 390 miles, 333 miles and 324 miles, respectively.

Lucid had initially deliberate to launch the Gravity later this 12 months. However in February 2022, after starting manufacturing of the Air, Rawlinson stated Lucid would delay the Gravity till 2024 to refine the design and incorporate classes realized from the Air’s launch. The Gravity can be constructed alongside the Air at Lucid’s manufacturing facility in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Lucid confirmed that it expects to start deliveries of the Gravity subsequent 12 months. The car was initially slated for the primary half of 2024, however that timeline has since been adjusted.