Former Lucid Motors chief engineer Eric Bach has filed a federal lawsuit against the electric vehicle manufacturer, alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation. Bach claims a top HR executive at Lucid referred to him as a "German Nazi" and that he was subsequently targeted due to his German heritage, leading to his dismissal. The lawsuit comes as Lucid Motors faces significant financial pressures and a wave of executive departures.
Allegations of Discrimination and Retaliation
Bach's lawsuit, filed Monday in the Northern District of California, details a series of events following an internal HR investigation into Lucid's workplace culture, which began in late 2024. According to the complaint, Bach was stripped of his responsibilities overseeing the powertrain division in early 2025. He contends that he was specifically targeted because of his German background.
The disparaging "German Nazi" comment, allegedly made by a senior HR executive, came to Bach's attention in mid-2025, months after the workplace culture investigation commenced and after he had already lost some key responsibilities. Bach states he encouraged a colleague to report the incident. The lawsuit further claims that Lucid Motors "confirmed" the HR executive made the remark. Bach had also lodged an internal complaint against another Lucid vice president for what he described as similarly racist behavior.
Bach alleges that Lucid Motors retaliated by attempting to force his resignation in October 2025. He was ultimately fired on November 5, 2025. Notably, Lucid Motors' press release issued that day only stated that Bach had "departed" from the company.
Bach's Stature Before the Investigation
Before the internal investigation, Bach claims he was on an upward trajectory within Lucid. An engineer with a decade of experience at the company, he oversaw "all hardware engineering," "product management," and "corporate planning." The complaint highlights that Lucid's chairman, Turqi Alnowaiser, had "praised Bach's loyalty and dedication" and expressed a desire to continue working with him. Furthermore, board member Andrew Liveris reportedly "signaled that Bach would become Chief Technology Officer (the position 'is yours to lose') and that Bach could one day become Chief Executive Officer."
However, the workplace culture investigation, which Bach claims was "tainted by HR's racist beliefs," led to him losing significant responsibilities. The HR department reportedly informed Bach that he contributed to a poor company culture. Beyond losing oversight of the powertrain team, Bach states he was also excluded from board meetings.
Lucid Motors Navigates Financial and Leadership Challenges
The lawsuit emerges during a challenging period for Lucid Motors. The electric vehicle company is reportedly burning through cash as it endeavors to scale up production of its second vehicle, the Gravity SUV. Lucid also plans to introduce more affordable mass-market vehicles on a midsized platform, slated for debut in late 2026.
Compounding these challenges, Lucid has experienced a notable exodus of executives. The company's VP of engineering departed on the same day Bach claims he was fired. Former CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson abruptly resigned in February, and a permanent replacement has yet to be named. Additionally, Lucid's head of investor relations, Senior Vice President of Operations, Managing Director for Europe, and the Vice Presidents of Software Quality and Marketing have all left within the past year.
