Lucid Motors' Chief Engineer Exits After 10-Year Stint

Lucid Motors' Chief Engineer Leaves After 10 Years Amidst Wider Shake-Up Lucid Motors announced the departure of its Chief Engineer, Eric Bach, after more than a decade with the company. Bach, who also served as Senior Vice President of Product, had been with Lucid since 2015. He joined the company after spending three years as Tesla's Director of Engineering, where he worked alongside Lucid's former CEO and CTO, Peter Rawlinson. Prior to his time at Tesla, Bach spent over 10 years at Volkswagen. Bach's departure is part of a wider shake-up announced by Lucid Motors on Wednesday. The company's Vice President of Engineering, James Hawkins, is also no longer with the company after spending 10 years there. Lucid declined to comment on Hawkins' departure. Additionally, Vice President of Quality, Jeri Ford, is retiring, and will be replaced by Marnie Levergood, who is joining from Scout Motors. Emad Dlala, the company's current Senior Vice President of Powertrain, is being elevated to oversee all of Engineering and Digital, a role he has been promoted to once before this year. The executive shake-up comes as Lucid enters its ninth month without a permanent CEO. The company has been navigating a challenging period, with production and sales targets yet to be met. Despite this, Lucid has made significant strides in the luxury electric vehicle market, with its flagship model, the Air, offering a range of up to 517 miles on a single charge. Financial details reveal that Lucid has been investing heavily in its product development and manufacturing capabilities. The company has secured significant funding, including a $4.6 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2021. Lucid has also been expanding its production capacity, with plans to increase output to 90,000 vehicles per year by 2023. The departure of key executives, including Bach and Hawkins, raises questions about the company's future direction and ability to meet its production and sales targets. However, the appointment of Emad Dlala to oversee Engineering and Digital suggests that Lucid is committed to driving innovation and improving its product offerings. In the context of the electric vehicle market, Lucid's challenges are not unique. Many companies are facing similar difficulties in scaling production and meeting demand. However, Lucid's luxury focus and commitment to high-performance electric vehicles set it apart from its competitors. Lucid's future outlook remains uncertain, but the company's commitment to innovation and its strong product offerings suggest that it is well-positioned to compete in the luxury electric vehicle market. The appointment of Marnie Levergood as Vice President of Quality and the elevation of Emad Dlala to oversee Engineering and Digital suggest that Lucid is taking steps to address its challenges and drive growth. As the company continues to navigate its current challenges, investors and analysts will be watching closely to see how Lucid responds to the departure of key executives and whether it can meet its production and sales targets. With its strong product offerings and commitment to innovation, Lucid remains a key player in the luxury electric vehicle market, and its future outlook is worth watching.