Lucid Motors Loses Senior Executive as New CEO Reshapes Leadership Team

Lucid Motors Executive Exits as CEO Napoli Restructures the Organization

Lucid Motors, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has lost one of its most senior and longest-tenured executives just months after he was elevated to a prominent leadership role. Emad Dlala, who had served the company for over a decade, has officially departed — marking the first major executive exit since Silvio Napoli was appointed CEO in April.

Who Is Emad Dlala?

Dlala was among Lucid Motors' most experienced insiders, having spent more than ten years with the company. During the past five years alone, he held both vice president and senior vice president positions, where he was responsible for overseeing the company's powertrain operations. Most recently, in November, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Engineering and Digital — a broad role that gave him oversight of the company's entire engineering and digital functions.

His elevation in November came at the same time Lucid parted ways with longtime chief engineer Eric Bach, who has since filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the company. That legal matter was recently paused pending arbitration, according to federal court records.

Napoli's Arrival Triggers Organizational Overhaul

Silvio Napoli officially assumed the CEO role just last week, bringing with him an extensive background in executive leadership from the Schindler Group, a major escalator and elevator manufacturer. His arrival has already triggered visible changes at the top of the organization.

In response to questions about Dlala's exit, Lucid Motors confirmed the departure and stated that the company is actively "transforming its organization to accelerate innovation and strengthen execution" under Napoli's direction.

As part of this restructuring, two senior leaders will now report directly to the new CEO: Vivek Attaluri, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, and Marc Solsona Palomar, Vice President of Software. The move signals a more hands-on approach from Napoli over the company's core technical functions.

"Emad Dlala has elected to leave the company to pursue other opportunities. We thank Emad for his many contributions over the years and wish him continued success in his future endeavors. Lucid remains focused on streamlining our organization and processes to fully leverage the strength of our team and will communicate further actions soon," the company said in an official statement.

A Period of Significant Turbulence at Lucid Motors

Dlala's departure is the latest chapter in what has been a turbulent period for the Saudi-owned EV maker. In February, Lucid laid off approximately 12% of its total workforce in a significant cost-cutting move. The company also spent the better part of a year searching for a replacement for former CEO Peter Rawlinson, who abruptly stepped down in early 2025.

The ongoing leadership instability raises questions, particularly as Lucid approaches several critical business milestones.

High Stakes Ahead: Cosmos Launch and Robotaxi Deal

Despite the internal upheaval, Lucid Motors is preparing for what could be its most important product launch to date. The company is set to release its first mass-market vehicle, the Cosmos — a mid-size electric vehicle built on a new platform and expected to be priced below $50,000. For a brand that has largely catered to the premium market, the Cosmos represents a genuine opportunity to reach a broader, more mainstream audience.

The stakes are even higher given Lucid's recently announced partnership with Uber to supply robotaxis. The company is collaborating with autonomous vehicle firm Nuro to develop self-driving versions of its Gravity SUV, with plans to deploy them on San Francisco streets before the end of this year.

With a new CEO settling into the role, key personnel changes underway, and major product launches on the horizon, Lucid Motors is navigating one of the most consequential periods in its history.