Lucid Motors Engineer Lawsuit: Wrongful Termination & Discrimination

Lawsuit Filed Against Lucid Motors by Former Chief Engineer

Eric Bach, previously the chief engineer at Lucid Motors, has initiated legal proceedings against the company. The suit alleges wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation. A central claim within the lawsuit is that a senior HR executive at Lucid reportedly referred to Bach as a “German Nazi.”

Details of the Federal Lawsuit

The legal action, submitted on Monday to the Northern District of California, details how Bach’s responsibilities within the powertrain division were curtailed in early 2025. This followed an internal HR investigation focused on the company’s overall workplace environment. Bach asserts that he was specifically targeted due to his German ancestry.

According to the complaint, Bach became aware of the offensive remark in mid-2025. This occurred several months after the workplace culture investigation began and after a reduction in his duties at Lucid. He then advised a colleague to formally report the incident.

Lucid's Response and Internal Complaints

TechCrunch has contacted Lucid Motors for a statement regarding the lawsuit and will provide updates as information becomes available.

The lawsuit further alleges that Lucid Motors acknowledged the HR executive’s statement. Bach also filed an internal complaint against another Lucid vice president, citing similar instances of racially biased conduct.

Alleged Retaliation and Termination

Bach contends that Lucid Motors attempted to compel his resignation in October 2025. Subsequently, on November 5, 2025, he was terminated from his position. Lucid’s official announcement at the time simply stated that he had “departed” the company.

Timing and Company Challenges

This legal challenge arises at a critical juncture for Lucid Motors. The company is currently experiencing significant cash expenditure as it strives to increase production of its Gravity SUV, its second vehicle model.

Furthermore, Lucid is actively developing more affordable vehicles intended for the mass market, with a midsized platform expected to be unveiled around late 2026.

Executive Turnover at Lucid

Lucid Motors has also seen a considerable turnover in its executive ranks. The VP of engineering left the company on the same day as Bach’s alleged firing, as previously reported by TechCrunch.

Earlier this year, former CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson unexpectedly resigned, and a permanent replacement has yet to be appointed. Within the past year, Lucid has also seen departures from its head of investor relations, Senior Vice President of Operations, Managing Director for Europe, and the Vice Presidents of Software Quality and Marketing.

Bach’s Prior Role and Future Prospects

Prior to the internal investigation, Bach claims to have been in a position of prominence within the company. Having spent ten years with Lucid, he oversaw “all hardware engineering,” as well as “product management and corporate planning.”

The complaint states that Lucid’s chairman, Turqi Alnowaiser, “praised Bach’s loyalty and dedication to the Company” and expressed a desire to continue their working relationship. Additionally, board member Andrew Liveris reportedly indicated that Bach was a strong candidate for the role of Chief Technology Officer (“is yours to lose”) and potentially even Chief Executive Officer.

Investigation and its Impact

The workplace culture investigation, initiated in late 2024, is described by Bach as being “tainted by HR’s racist beliefs.” This investigation initially led to a reduction in Bach’s responsibilities.

According to the complaint, the HR department informed Bach that his actions contributed to a negative company culture. Alongside losing control of the powertrain team, Bach alleges he was also excluded from board meetings.