logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
27m 43s

Bold Names: Why This Tesla Pioneer Says ...

The Wall Street Journal
About this episode

Tesla, and its CEO Elon Musk, are the big names in electric vehicles, but a lot of competitors are nipping at their heels, including one led by a former top Tesla engineer. Peter Rawlinson is the CEO of Lucid, a billion-dollar auto startup he says has better technology than its rivals. The company recently completed a $1.75 billion stock offering, and has backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Now, as major automakers such as Volkswagen, General Motors and Ford pull back on their EV ambitions, find out why Rawlinson says Lucid’s all-in on luxury vehicles with a high price tag and, eventually, smaller batteries. Plus, why he says he won’t be building a $20,000 EV any time soon. He speaks to WSJ’s Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims in episode one of our interview series Bold Names.  


Further Reading

Why Elon Musk’s Robotaxi Dreams Are Premature 

Elon Musk Plays a Familiar Song: Robot Cars Are Coming 

Ultralong-Range Electric Cars Are Arriving. Say Goodbye to Charging Stops. 

Used EVs Sell for Bargain Prices Now, Putting Owners and Dealers in a Bind 


Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Apr 2025
TNB Tech Minute: Japan Accuses Google of Being Anticompetitive
Plus: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Bank of New York Mellon press pause on electronic communications with their regulator following an email hack. And Johnson & Johnson says tariffs will increase costs for its medical-technology products. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more ab ... Show More
2m 32s
Apr 2025
Chatbot Confidential: How to Protect Your Health Data When Using AI
One way that using generative artificial intelligence chatbots, like ChatGPT or Claude, can get risky: getting medical advice. For the third installment of Tech News Briefing’s special series “Chatbox Confidential,” WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen explains how to keep y ... Show More
16m 7s
Apr 2025
TNB Tech Minute: China’s Tech Giants Plan to Help Exporters
Plus, Tesla removes a buy option on its China website. And the EU talks with Beijing about an alternative to current tariffs on Chinese EVs. Victoria Craig hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
2m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s politics have eroded Tesla’s appeal among some core buyers of electric vehicles. Some customers have started getting rid of their Teslas, and the company’s sales are down worldwide. Meanwhile, Musk is looking at new ways to expand Tesla’s business. WSJ’s Becky Peterso ... Show More
18m 58s
May 2025
Musk Commits to Tesla CEO Role and Plans Political Pullback
Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Elon Musk said he’s committed to still leading Tesla Inc. five years from now and expects to pare back his political spending, assuaging some investors’ concerns about the future of his most valuable company. T ... Show More
42m 45s
Jan 2025
The inside tip on how Tesla CEO Elon Musk is able to deliver on his big ambitions
The venture capital industry has no shortage of ideas right now in the AI space. Companies specializing in everything from mobility to software to chip design are trying to cash in on the AI boom, and VCs are aiming to be there to grow entrepreneurs and drive returns for their in ... Show More
26m 16s
Sep 6
Sept. 6, 2025 | Weekend Drive: Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package; EV cutbacks
<p>Automotive News’ Larry P. Vellequette and Hannah Lutz discuss Tesla’s proposal to give CEO Elon Musk a compensation package worth up to $1 trillion. They also talk about three automakers announcing EV production or staffing cuts amid headwinds and demand challenges.</p><p><br/ ... Show More
16 m
Jul 2023
The Electric Car Goes Mainstream
Before Teslas were everywhere, they were playthings for the rich and famous. Building its first affordable car made Tesla a breakout success, but it nearly bankrupted the company. This is the story of how the Model 3 changed Tesla and the entire auto industry. Learn more about yo ... Show More
29m 43s
Feb 2025
Can Rivian avoid the EV speed bumps? with founder and CEO RJ Scaringe
<p>As demand declines for EVs, and Tesla’s Elon Musk wields power in the new Trump administration, electric automaker Rivian is taking this time to adapt its business and expand its brand. Rivian’s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe joins Rapid Response to share how the company is movin ... Show More
31m 33s
Aug 17
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe on the Future of Rivian, EV Sports Cars, and Depreciation! THIS CAR POD! EP73
Have a question you want answered on the podcast next week? Ask HERE https://crsnbds.com/PODQUESTIONS Thank You To Our Sponsors! Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/CARS! #trueclassicpod Get $10 Off @BRUNT with code CARS at https://bruntworkwear.com/ ... Show More
1h 18m
Feb 2025
Inflation Rises Unexpectedly, Musk To Withdraw Bid If OpenAI Remains Nonprofit, and China Establishes Planetary Defense Force
We&#39;re experimenting and would love to hear from you!In today&apos;s episode of &apos;Discover Daily&apos;, we begin with January&apos;s unexpected inflation surge to 3% that has rattled financial markets and diminished hopes for early Fed rate cuts. The Consumer Price Index s ... Show More
7m 2s
Apr 2025
How Elon Musk Pulled X Back From the Brink
After years of trying to revive his flailing social media company, Elon Musk has pulled off a turnaround at X. It comes after Musk decided to merge X with his artificial intelligence company xAI. The deal values the combined business at over $100 billion. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy e ... Show More
17m 17s