Lucid Motors' former chief engineer sues for wrongful termination and discrimination

Core Viewpoint - The lawsuit filed by Eric Bach against Lucid Motors highlights serious allegations of wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation, particularly focusing on a derogatory comment made by a top HR executive and the subsequent treatment of Bach due to his German heritage [1][3]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - Eric Bach claims he was wrongfully terminated and discriminated against, alleging that he was referred to as a "German Nazi" by a top HR executive [1]. - The lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of California and claims that Bach lost responsibilities in early 2025 due to an HR investigation into workplace culture [1][2]. - Bach asserts that he was targeted because of his German heritage and that he logged an internal complaint against another vice president for similar racist behavior [3]. Group 2: Company Context - The lawsuit comes at a challenging time for Lucid Motors, which is experiencing significant cash burn as it ramps up production of its second vehicle, the Gravity SUV, and develops more affordable mass-market vehicles expected to debut in late 2026 [3]. - Lucid Motors has seen a high turnover of executives, with multiple key positions vacated, including the VP of engineering and the former CEO and CTO, who resigned in February [6]. - The workplace culture investigation that led to Bach's loss of responsibilities was initiated in late 2024 and was reportedly influenced by HR's alleged racist beliefs [9]. Group 3: Bach's Professional Background - Prior to the investigation, Bach was in a strong position within the company, overseeing all hardware engineering, product management, and corporate planning [7]. - Lucid's chairman praised Bach's loyalty and dedication, indicating a desire to continue working with him, while a board member suggested that Bach was a candidate for the Chief Technology Officer position [7][8].