By Phil Royle – July 23, 2026
On this week’s podcast, it’s been a roller coaster of a year for Lucid, and 2026 is barely half over. With bankruptcy rumors swirling, Lucid’s stock tumbled and the company took evasive action. Is this curtains for Lucid? Meanwhile, Honda cancels the Prologue starting in 2027, Ford’s CEO says there’s no stopping Chinese EVs, Hyundai Group tops a battery degradation poll, and more!
Catch the video version of the podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to the audio version on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, PocketCasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, or wherever top-quality podcasts are served.
SHOW NOTES
Bentley to use drums and an orchestra for its EV sounds: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/electric-cars/electric-bentley-torcal-replace-v8-soundtrack-drums
Lucid stock crashes, company hires advisory firm for direction, denies it’s going into bankruptcy: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/07/14/lucid-motors-denies-bankruptcy-rumors-after-stocks-55-crash/
Lucid weighing options from going private to bankruptcy: https://eletric-vehicles.com/lucid/exclusive-lucid-weighs-going-private-or-chapter-11-as-adviser-reports-to-board/
Lucid stock rebounds to where it was after denying bankruptcy: https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/17/lucid-rallies-10-for-a-third-straight-up-day-leaving-tesla-rivian-behind/
Honda Prologue discontinued for 2027: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a72753661/honda-prologue-discontinued/
Bill Ford says “We can’t expect to keep them [the Chinese] out forever, and we have to be able to beat them at their own game”: https://www.thedrive.com/news/bill-ford-says-carmakers-need-to-tackle-china-head-on-even-if-theyd-rather-not
Toyota CEO Koji Sato proposes standardization of components among Japanese OEMs to improve global competitiveness: https://www.thedrive.com/news/japan-wants-to-standardize-car-parts-to-protect-its-auto-industry
EVs top vehicle category in Germany for June 2026: https://insideevs.com/news/802162/evs-outsold-gas-hybrid-diesel-germany/
EV battery degradation study at 62,000 miles: https://supercarblondie.com/evs-tesla-audi-bmw-battery-degradation-study/
Chip Motors unveils low-speed neighborhood EV: https://electrek.co/2026/07/16/chip-motors-15000-electric-luv-25-mph/
This week’s hosts: Phil Royle and Edward A. Sanchez
Episode art courtesy Honda
Music courtesy Twisterium at Pixabay
Website: https://www.thewattcar.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewattcar
