Luminar Faces Fresh Layoffs Following CEO Austin Russell’s Exit
Luminar Technologies, the lidar pioneer known for advancing autonomous vehicle technology, has launched another round of layoffs—just days after the unexpected resignation of its founder and CEO, Austin Russell.
In a recent regulatory filing, Luminar disclosed that it began a fresh wave of job cuts on May 15, though it did not specify the number of affected employees. The cost of these layoffs is expected to range between $4 million and $5 million, impacting the company’s finances in the second and third quarters of 2025.
This restructuring follows a previous massive workforce reduction in 2024, when 30% of employees—a total of 212 staff—were let go. That move was estimated to cost the company up to $6 million in severance-related charges.
The new layoffs come amid internal upheaval. Earlier this month, Luminar’s board replaced Austin Russell as both CEO and chairman following an ethics investigation, though no specifics about the probe have been publicly released. Paul Ricci, former Nuance CEO, was appointed to lead the company.
Adding to the shake-up, board member Jun Hong Heng also resigned shortly after Russell’s departure. According to filings, his resignation wasn’t related to any disputes over the company’s operations or governance.
Luminar has yet to issue any formal comments regarding the leadership transition or the ongoing layoffs.
Russell, once celebrated as one of the youngest self-made billionaires, rose to prominence after Luminar went public in 2021 through a SPAC merger with Gores Metropoulos Inc. The deal valued Luminar at $3.4 billion, and the company had already secured $250 million in funding before that.
As Luminar navigates executive changes and cost-cutting, its future in the highly competitive autonomous driving space remains uncertain.
