Exhibit 10.17


 


		 	Office
	7373 Gateway Blvd. Newark, CA 94560	 	650
802 8181



 


January 2, 2020


 


Michael Smuts


 


Re: Employment Agreement


 


Dear
Mike,


 


It gives me great pleasure to
offer you the Exempt full-time position with Atieva USA, Inc. (doing business as Lucid Motors USA, Inc.) (the “Company”)
as VP, Finance reporting to Peter Rawlinson, to begin on January 13, 2020 (“Hire Date”). The terms and conditions
of your employment with the Company will be as set forth below.


 


Base Salary and Other
Compensation


 


You will be paid the following compensation during
your employment:


 


		·	You will be paid a base salary of $13,076.93 per bi-weekly pay period ($340,000 annualized), less
applicable tax and other withholdings.



 


		·	In addition to your base salary, you will be eligible to earn a target incentive bonus up to 30%
of your base salary, less applicable tax and other withholdings, as determined by the Company in its discretion based upon
the Company’s performance, your individual performance, and your continued employment through the bonus payment date in January following
the close of each fiscal year.



 


		·	In addition, you will be advanced a one-time sign-on bonus of $35,000 less applicable tax and other
withholdings, in the first payroll cycle after you join the Company. This sign-on bonus will become earned in the event that you
successfully complete one year of employment with the Company in good standing. If you resign from your employment with the Company
for any reason or are terminated for “cause” before the first anniversary of your Hire Date, you will immediately repay
the Company the full (gross) amount of this sign-on bonus.



 


		·	The Company has partnered with UrbanBound to administer your relocation benefits. UrbanBound’s
software, paired with a designated Relocation Consultant and UrbanBound’s Supplier Network, combine to deliver your relocation
benefits according to your policy and to help you use those benefits most effectively. You are eligible for the following relocation
benefits:



 


		o	Flex Allowance – a one-time cash payment of $3,000. This allowance is intended to reimburse
you for expenses that you may incur as a direct result of your move and that are not reimbursable or covered by the Direct Bill
Allowance detailed below. The Flex Allowance is considered taxable income and will be tax-assisted by the Company.



 


		o	Managed Budget Allowance – a budget of $45,000. This allowance is to assist in the cost of
the designated relocation services booked through the UrbanBound Supplier Network. An important benefit of the direct bill benefit
is that UrbanBound, not you, pays the vendors for the service up to the Direct Bill Allowance amount. Expenses booked using Direct
Bill Allowance are considered taxable income and will not be grossed up by the Company to cover the tax implications.



 









     


     


    

 


		o	Destination Service Allowance – a budget of $1,700. The destination service benefit offers
anything from home finding assistance, school tours, to checking out your new neighborhoods. These boots-on-the-ground representatives
can assist with helping to get you and your family settled.



 


		o	Do not book any type of relocation services (flights, temporary housing, etc.). Your
relocation consultant will be reaching out to you and will be coordinating and booking these services. Please keep an eye out for
an email notification from UrbanBound in order to activate and receive these benefits.



 


Severance


 


You will be eligible to participate
in the Atieva USA, Inc. Severance Benefit Plan. The summary of the plan’s benefits that you are eligible to receive
pursuant to the Plan is described in the table below. Upon your acceptance and after your start with Lucid Motors, you will receive
a full plan document for your review and signature.


 


	 	 	Salary Continuation	 	Maximum
Duration

of COBRA

Payment Period
	 	Percentage of

Outstanding

Unvested Equity

Awards That

Will Accelerate
	Qualifying Termination

that is NOT a Change

of Control Termination	 	6 months

of your 
Monthly Base Salary	 	6 months	 	To be determined

on an individual

basis
	Qualifying
Termination

that is a Change

of Control Termination
	 	9 months of your

Monthly Base Salary	 	9 months	 	75%



 


Employee Benefits


 


You will be eligible to participate
in the Company employee benefit plans that the Company makes available to similarly-situated employees. The Company provides a
competitive benefit package that currently includes major medical, vision, and dental insurance plans, paid time off, flexible
spending account and a 401(k) program. The eligibility dates of the benefits are as follows:


 


		·	Group health insurance benefits: commence on your date of hire
		·	PTO (Personal Time Off)
		·	Flexible spending account
		·	401(k) program: eligibility starts on Hire Date
		·	Life Insurance Plan and ADD paid for by the company up to 2 x your annual base salary



 






     


     


    

 


Stock Option Award


 


Subject to the approval by the
Board of Directors of Ateiva, Inc. (the “Board”), the parent of the Company, and the provisions of the Atieva, Inc.
2014 Share Plan (the “Plan”), the Company will grant you an option under the Plan to purchase 150,000 shares of Common
Stock of Atieva, Inc. at the fair market value of that Common Stock as determined by the Board in accordance with the Plan
(the “Option). The shares subject to the Option vest over a four (4) year period, such that 25% of the shares subject
to the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of your Hire Date, and 1/48 of the shares subject by the Option shall vest on
each monthly anniversary thereafter, provided that you are still employed by the Company at such times. The Option will be subject
to and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Company’s standard form of stock option agreement, which
you will be required to sign as a condition of the Board’s grant of the Option.


 


Proof of Right to Work


 


Please bring appropriate documentation
for the completion of your new hire forms, including proof that you are presently eligible to work in the United States for I-9
form purposes. Failure to provide appropriate documentation within three days of your hire date will result in immediate termination
of employment in accordance with the terms of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.


 


Confidential Information
and Invention Assignment Agreement


 


Your acceptance of this offer
and commencement of employment with the Company is contingent upon the execution, and delivery to an officer of the Company, of
the Company’s Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement, a copy of which is enclosed for your review and
execution (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), prior to or on your Hire Date.


 


Background Checks


 


This offer is contingent upon the successful completion
(as determined by the Company) of any background or reference checks desired by the Company.


 


Driver’s License Information


 


If driving will be one of the
essential functions of your job, as a further condition of your employment, you must: (a) authorize the Company to conduct
a DMV (or similar) check of your driving record; (b) have maintained an excellent driving record (as determined by the Company
in its discretion) for at least the past five (5) years; (c) currently have the appropriate license for the type of driving
you will be doing on behalf of the Company; (d) maintain the appropriate license for the type of driving you will be doing
on behalf of the Company at all times during your employment; and (e) maintain an excellent driving record (as determined
by the Company in its discretion) at all times during your employment with the Company.


 


Return of Materials


 


Prior to your employment with
the Company, you shall return all materials to your former employer or client, including any electronic storage devices, and ensure
that you have not retained any files or records of your former employer or client on any media, including cloud-based storage systems.


 






     


     


    

 


At-Will Employment


 


Your employment with the Company
is “at will,” and thus you or the Company may terminate our employment relationship at any time, with or without cause
or advance notice. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change your position, duties, compensation, and/or
employee benefits at any time on a prospective basis. This Employment Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws
of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles.


 


Entire Agreement and Modification


 


This Employment Agreement, along
with any other agreements described herein, sets forth the terms and conditions of your employment with the Company, and supersedes
any prior representations or agreements concerning your employment with the Company, whether written or oral. You acknowledge and
agree that you are not relying on any statements or representations concerning the Company or your employment with the Company
except those made in this Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by a written agreement signed by you
and an authorized officer of the Company.


 


We welcome you to Lucid Motors
and look forward to working with you. We trust that it will be a mutually rewarding experience. The offer of employment contained
in this Agreement will expire at the close of business on January 6, 2020; please confirm your acceptance of this offer by
signing and dating this Agreement on the spaces below and returning it to me prior to that time.


 


Sincerely,


 


	/s/ Michael Carter	 
	Michael Carter	 
	Vice President, People	 



 


I have read and understand the
terms and conditions set forth in this Employment Agreement. Furthermore, in choosing to accept this employment with Atieva USA, Inc.
(dba Lucid Motors USA, Inc.), I agree that I am not relying on any representations, whether verbal or written, except
as specifically set forth in this Employment Agreement.


 





	/s/ Michael Smuts	 
	Michael Smuts	 


 


 


ATTACHMENT A


 


Sign-On Bonus Agreement


 


THIS AGREEMENT, made January 2, 2020 by and
between Atieva USA, Inc. (dba Lucid Motors USA, Inc.) (hereinafter the “Company”) and Michael Smuts (hereinafter
 “Employee”).


 






     


     


    

 


The Company is pleased to offer
Employee a one-time sign-on bonus of $35,000 less applicable tax and other withholdings, in the first payroll cycle after Employee
joins the Company. This sign-on bonus will become earned in the event that Employee successfully completes one year of employment
with Company in good standing. If Employee resigns from their employment with Company for any reason or is terminated for “cause”
before the first anniversary of their Hire Date, Employee will immediately repay Company the full (gross) amount of this sign-on
bonus.


 


By signing below, I authorize Company to withhold
$35,000 from any severance and other final pay I receive upon termination of employment.


 


	/s/ Michael Smuts	 
	Michael Smuts