Last month, Lucid revealed that Eric Bach, its long-serving senior vice president of product and chief engineer, departed from the EV manufacturer after a decade. Although no specific reason for his sudden exit was given, we now have a bit more context surrounding the situation. On Monday, Bach initiated a wrongful termination lawsuit in federal court against Lucid, alleging he was dismissed after voicing concerns over discrimination and a hostile work environment—specifically, that a coworker labeled him a “German Nazi” and turned the company against him.
In the legal complaint put forth by his attorneys, Bach, who hails from Germany, states that Lucid’s human resources launched a “tainted” inquiry into its workplace culture in late 2024, which led to a “significant” reduction in his wide-ranging duties and his exclusion from board meetings. In mid-2025, Bach asserts he was informed by an unnamed colleague that Lucid’s Senior Director of HR Rachael Rivera had been “disparaging Bach in racist terms” throughout the investigation and allegedly referred to him as a “German Nazi.”
The claims indicate that Bach urged the colleague to escalate the issue through appropriate internal channels, subsequently doing so himself, which led to the company “confirming” that Rivera had called him a Nazi. Nevertheless, and in light of another allegation that Lucid’s VP of Program Management Gemma Parker conveyed to colleagues that she “hates” Bach “so much,” he claims Lucid protected Rivera and Parker, attributing it to his “unprofessional behavior,” and dismissed his complaints. Months later, Bach states that Lucid attempted to coerce him into resigning, ultimately terminating him when he declined. The complete complaint is available below:
Throughout the filing, Bach’s legal team emphasizes that the evidence suggests he couldn’t have been fired for his “excellent” performance, showcasing his extensive achievements over a decade with Lucid, which includes the debut of its first two models, the Air sedan and Gravity SUV. The lawsuit enumerates the multiple raises, bonuses, and equity he received as proof the company was pleased with his contributions, including as recently as this year, along with an informal assurance from a board member that Bach would soon be elevated to chief technical officer.
Ultimately, Bach contends that Lucid “intentionally discriminated against [him] based on race,” “publicly denigrated him,” and made him a scapegoat for its challenges in launching the Air and Gravity. The filing also notes that “labeling someone a Nazi is notably serious” for a German national like Bach, who also speaks English with a German accent.
We reached out to Lucid for a statement, and while the automaker has yet to provide a formal response, a source within the company labeled Bach’s claims as “meritless” and disputed the portrayal of his termination. The source highlighted that Lucid’s various product challenges—widespread software glitches, production delays, quality control issues—are well-known, and earlier this year the company began initiatives to reorganize its leadership in an effort to right the ship.
This included promoting Emad Dlala, the former VP of powertrain technology, who was appointed as Senior VP for Engineering and Digital following Bach’s departure. The source mentioned that Dlala’s effective leadership of the powertrain team prompted Lucid to assess the duties of all its executives, concluding that Bach’s oversight of overall product development was resulting in a cascade of problems down the line. Although software wasn’t under Bach’s oversight, the source argued that the software cannot be perfected if the product development isn’t executed properly and on schedule first.
Lucid is certainly not unique in restructuring its leadership to consolidate responsibilities as product issues, especially those involving software, continue to escalate across the industry. In November, GM restructured its executive teams and announced the exit of two key software VPs and its head of AI, following the recruitment of Sterling Anderson as its new chief product officer in May. However, it’s probably safe to say this is the only instance where a departing executive is alleging they were called a Nazi first.
The lawsuit states that Bach will also file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding Title VII violations, along with the California Civil Rights Department. Bach is seeking a jury trial. More updates will follow as they become available.
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**Lawsuit Filed Following Lucid Motors’ Termination of Chief Engineer Amid Allegations of Discrimination**
In a notable legal development, Lucid Motors, the electric vehicle manufacturer recognized for its high-end sedans, is currently facing a lawsuit after the dismissal of its chief engineer. The lawsuit claims that the termination was predicated on discriminatory practices, raising questions about workplace culture and protocols within the fast-expanding automotive company.
The chief engineer, who had been with Lucid Motors since its founding, asserts that their dismissal was not only unjust but also stemmed from discriminatory practices that violate labor laws. The lawsuit outlines that the engineer endured a hostile work atmosphere marked by bias and unfair treatment based on personal characteristics, which they claim contributed to their eventual dismissal.
The lawsuit delineates multiple instances that the chief engineer claims signal a larger pattern of discrimination within the organization. These incidents allegedly included derogatory remarks, exclusion from essential meetings, and a lack of support for career growth opportunities. The engineer argues that despite their contributions to the company’s pioneering initiatives, they faced undue scrutiny and were eventually dismissed without justification.
Lucid Motors, which has been in the spotlight for its ambitious initiatives to compete in the electric vehicle sector, has not yet made a public statement regarding the lawsuit. However, the company has previously underscored its dedication to diversity and inclusion, making this legal dispute particularly significant. The outcome of this case could impact not only the parties involved but also the company’s standing and its policies on workplace equality.
Legal analysts suggest that the case may depend on the evidence available concerning the alleged discriminatory practices. Should the chief engineer be able to validate their claims with documentation or testimony from witnesses, it could bolster their case against Lucid Motors. Conversely, the company may justify its actions by asserting that the termination was predicated on performance-related issues rather than discrimination.
This law suit emerges at a time when numerous companies within the tech and automotive domains are under examination for their workplace cultures. As the electric vehicle sector continues to grow, the emphasis on ethical employment practices and diversity initiatives is increasingly vital. Various stakeholders, including investors and consumers, are closely monitoring how companies like Lucid Motors respond to such allegations.
As the legal developments progress, the case is likely to attract attention from industry experts, labor rights advocates, and the general public. The outcome could establish a precedent for addressing similar cases in the high-pressure realm of the automotive industry, particularly as it shifts towards more inclusive practices.
In summary, the lawsuit instigated against Lucid Motors following the dismissal of its chief engineer underscores the ongoing hurdles related to workplace discrimination in the tech-focused automotive sector. As the case advances, it will stand as a crucial examination of the company’s commitment to ensuring a fair and equitable workplace.