A U.S electric car maker has broken the world record for the longest distance travelled on a single charge — and in doing so, has raised the bar for Tesla and other rivals in an increasingly competitive EV market
Lucid Motors, a California-based manufacturer, completed a 1,205km (749-mile) journey from St. Moritz in Switzerland to Munich, Germany, using a production version of its Air Grand Touring saloon. The drive included mountain roads, motorways and local routes, and was completed without a single recharge. It exceeded the previous record, set last month, by 160km. The feat has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records.
The vehicle used in the attempt is equipped with Lucid’s proprietary 900V+ electric architecture and advanced battery management systems. It produces 831PS, achieves a top speed of 270km/h, and delivers a WLTP-certified range of up to 960km, with energy efficiency as low as 13.5kWh per 100km. Under optimal charging conditions, it can gain 400km of range in just 16 minutes.
“This range record represents a significant milestone – it’s yet another clear demonstration of the technological edge that defines Lucid,” Eric Bach, the firm’s Senior Vice President of Product and Chief Engineer, said. “Our products combine world-class vehicle efficiency with the most advanced drive units, ultra-high voltage architecture, and battery management technology available today, which lets a Lucid travel further with less energy than any other vehicles.”
The drive was organised in partnership with London-based entrepreneur Umit Sabanci, who also collaborated with Lucid in 2024 to set a previous Guinness World Record for the most countries visited on a single charge in a production EV. That earlier attempt saw Sabanci travel through nine countries without recharging, also in a Lucid Air Grand Touring.
“When I completed the nine-country journey in 2024, it was just the beginning,” Sabanci said yesterday. “This new achievement takes that journey even further. I’m proud to be part of a movement that proves electric mobility isn’t just the future — it’s already redefining what’s possible today.”
The Lucid Air Grand Touring is a high-end five-seat electric saloon, manufactured in Arizona and designed with a focus on both efficiency and comfort. Its real-world range and charging speed place it at the top end of the electric market, in direct competition with models from Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.
Lucid’s achievement challenges long-standing concerns around range anxiety — one of the key barriers to mainstream EV adoption — and increases pressure on legacy manufacturers and mass-market EV brands to close the efficiency gap.
With many electric cars still offering sub-400-mile ranges in practice, and charging infrastructure patchy in key markets, demonstrable endurance from a production vehicle offers a powerful proof of concept.
Lucid Motors is listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker LCID and operates from a vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Arizona. In addition to the Air Grand Touring, the company recently began production of its second vehicle, the Lucid Gravity SUV.Images: Courtesy, Lucid Motors
