Lucid Motors has appointed Silvio Napoli as its new CEO, replacing interim chief executive Marc Winterhoff, in a move that reflects the company’s desire to enter a new phase focused more heavily on manufacturing, expansion, and operational efficiency.
Winterhoff will return to his previous role as Chief Operating Officer after leading the company on an interim basis since former CEO Peter Rawlinson unexpectedly stepped down in February 2025.
Interestingly, Napoli does not come from the automotive world. Instead, he comes from the heavy industrial sector, having previously served as CEO of Schindler Group, the company known for elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. Despite that, Lucid appears to believe that this industrial background is exactly what it needs at this stage.
The company said Napoli brings significant experience in managing global operations and has previously led major projects in complex markets, with a strong track record in improving production efficiency, controlling costs, managing investments, and building high-performing teams.
In comments to Bloomberg, Napoli said that his experience in global manufacturing, along with his ability to combine industry and services to build a strong brand, were among the main reasons Lucid selected him for the role.
This leadership change comes at a critical moment for Lucid. While the company has successfully developed advanced EVs like the Air and Gravity, it still struggles to reach the production volumes needed to achieve profitability.
For that reason, Lucid is placing high hopes on its upcoming electric models, Cosmos and Earth, which are expected to start at around $50,000 and help the company reach a broader customer base. Production of the first of these models is expected to begin later this year.
As part of its efforts to reduce spending, the company also cut around 12% of its workforce this year in an attempt to lower costs and improve operational performance.
At the same time, Lucid announced new funding to support its future plans, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund set to inject an additional $550 million into the company, while Uber will increase its investment by another $200 million, bringing its total commitment to $500 million.
Napoli will not begin his role immediately, as Winterhoff will remain in place until Napoli relocates from Switzerland to the United States, a move Lucid expects to complete in the coming weeks once his visa process is finalised.
Many observers believe Napoli’s appointment could have a direct impact on Lucid’s Saudi project and the company’s industrial ambitions there, especially as Lucid now appears to need leadership focused more on manufacturing, cost reduction, and increasing output rather than purely on technology development. With expansion plans underway at the AMP-2 factory in King Abdullah Economic City, this change could help Lucid build a stronger and more efficient production base in the years ahead.
