Oct 6 (Reuters) - Lucid reported a 46.6% jump

in third-quarter deliveries on Monday, driven by a rush of

demand for electric vehicles before lucrative tax credits

expired last week, but it still missed Wall Street expectations.

The EV maker and its rivals are bracing for a sharp drop in

sales in the last three months of the year without the $7,500 in

credits. While some have cut prices and found mechanisms to

extend the benefits of the credit, others have cut production

plans in anticipation of a slump.

The EV industry has already been grappling with high tariffs

on imports of vehicles and auto parts into the U.S.

While Lucid makes its vehicles in the U.S., it imports some

parts from abroad. Lucid vehicles did not qualify for the tax

credits on cash purchases, but it used the credits to offer

attractive leases.

Lucid handed over 4,078 vehicles in the quarter, compared

with estimates of 4,286 deliveries seven analysts, on average,

were expecting, according to Visible Alpha. This compares with

2,781 vehicles delivered a year ago.

EV giant Tesla posted record quarterly deliveries

on Thursday, while Rivian also beat sales estimates as

consumers rushed to buy EVs ahead of the incentive's September

30 deadline.

The company has put in place offers and discounts to boost

the appeal of its luxury Air sedans to attract consumers who

have pared back big-budget spending because of high interest

rates.

The EV maker has been aggressively striking deals with North

American companies to domestically source critical minerals used

in manufacturing.

The company's fortunes rely heavily on the success of its

newly launched Gravity SUV and the upcoming mid-size car, which

targets a $50,000 price point, as the company looks to expand

its consumer base.