{"id":2570,"date":"2026-06-24T12:33:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=2570"},"modified":"2026-06-24T12:33:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T12:33:49","slug":"still-in-shock-casa-grande-feels-impact-after-lucid-motors-layoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=2570","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Still in shock\u2019: Casa Grande feels impact after Lucid Motors layoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

CASA GRANDE, AZ (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 A decade after the people of Casa Grande were sold an electric-vehicle dream \u2014 with thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in investment promised \u2014 some locals say the reality has been far different. It\u2019s only gotten worse after Lucid Motors announced another round of layoffs.<\/p>\n

Read more Unlikely heroes rush to battle Kay Fire near Cave Creek<\/a><\/p>\n

This week, Lucid announced it is cutting 18% of its workforce across the board. The company produces its electric vehicles at its massive Casa Grande manufacturing plant, and 705 employees there were laid off.<\/p>\n

For businesses in Casa Grande, this could mean fewer customers walking through the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got to see a lot of those folks come in here,\u201d said Michael Hill, a manager at Cook-E-Jar Bakery and Cafe in downtown Casa Grande. \u201cA lot of buzz when it was first built and everybody was kind of parading around happily and excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said Lucid employees at one point made up as much as 15% of his regular business.<\/p>\n

For those in the community, the latest cuts feel like part of a familiar pattern. Lucid layoffs began in 2023, again in 2024 despite an expansion, and this marks the second workforce reduction in 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to get laid off, work there,\u201d said Roy Delsi. He was born and raised in Casa Grande.<\/p>\n

For Melody Johnson, the impact is personal. Johnson said her husband worked at Lucid for five years and made it through multiple rounds of cuts \u2014 until now.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time we were holding our breath,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe\u2019re still in shock and we have to figure out how we\u2019re gonna pay our mortgage and get insurance again. That\u2019s been the biggest thing. We\u2019ve taken a huge hit and we\u2019re just trying to pick up the pieces right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson works part-time at Cream of the Crop, a local consignment shop, and said her boss plans to give her full-time hours soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna get emotional. I\u2019m very happy for that,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, hopefully everything will work out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Extreme Heat Warning again, for Tucson and surrounding areas<\/a><\/p>\n

Lucid was expected to be a major economic driver for Casa Grande, but some said the repeated layoffs have hurt morale and created uncertainty for families and small businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew some people that were bartenders and had gotten jobs and were super excited \u2014 only to be let go shortly after,\u201d Hill said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow it looks like it\u2019s gonna be a black eye to the community,\u201d Delsi said.<\/p>\n

Johnson said the ripple effects will extend beyond the plant.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not the only ones affected by it,\u201d she said. \u201cIt will impact businesses. It will impact the entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

We announced actions to strengthen Lucid\u2019s operations, including a reduction of our US-based hourly and salaried workforce of 18%. These are difficult decisions taken to align production with demand, reduce inventory, and adapt to declining market conditions. They are part of a broader effort to simplify the company, sharpen execution, and position Lucid to become more competitive over time. <\/i><\/p>\n

We are grateful for the contributions of impacted employees and are providing severance, benefits, and support to assist them through this transition.<\/i><\/p>\n

Our commitment to Arizona, and the Casa Grande community, are important to our success and have not changed. We continue to invest in our presence here and see opportunities for further growth in the years ahead.<\/i><\/p>\n

Additionally, Marc Winterhoff, Chief Operating Officer, has departed the Company effective immediately following the elimination of the COO role. We thank Marc for his contributions during a critical period of transition and wish him well.<\/i><\/p>\n