A passenger-EV startup has won an auction to acquire Nikola Corp.’s former headquarters and manufacturing facility. However, Lucid Group apparently will be using the facilities to expand the footprint for its own electric light-duty EVs, not continuing the bankrupt Nikola’s zero-emission trucks business.

A news release announcing the deal said the transaction does not include the acquisition of Nikola's business, customer base, or technology related to Nikola's hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.

According to TechCrunch, the move surprised industry watchers, as Nikola had been trying to sell its whole business since it filed for bankruptcy protection in February.

TechCrunch also reported that Nikola founder Trevor Milton, who was convicted of fraud in 2022 but was pardoned by President Trump in March, was evaluating a bid of his own, but Nikola convinced the court to block Milton from inspecting its factory and other assets in person ahead of the auction.

What Will Lucid Do With Nikola Assets?

Lucid will take over Nikola's former Coolidge, Arizona, manufacturing facility, as well as the Phoenix facility previously used as Nikola's headquarters and product development center. These buildings collectively add more than 884,000 square feet to Lucid's Arizona footprint.

Lucid's agreement to acquire these assets follows Nikola's bankruptcy auction, which concluded April 10 as part of Nikola’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief.

The company also said it plans to offer employment to more than 300 former Nikola employees in roles across Lucid's Arizona facilities. 

Lucid is a Silicon Valley-based technology company focused on creating advanced EVs, such as the Lucid Air and new Lucid Gravity, both of which it assembles in its vertically integrated factory in Arizona. 

"As we continue our production ramp of Lucid Gravity and prepare for our upcoming midsize platform vehicles, acquiring these assets is an opportunity to strategically expand our manufacturing, warehousing, testing, and development facilities while supporting our local Arizona community," said Marc Winterhoff, Interim CEO at Lucid. 

Last year, Lucid announced that its 2025 MY Lucid Air Pure achieved 5 miles per kilowatt hour of energy and recorded a 146 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent) EPA rating.