2026-08-17 · equities

Ferrari's electric car Luce sells for $40 million at charity auction

Ferrari's first all-electric car sells for $40 million at charity auction, nearly 40 times initial estimate of $1.1 million; buyer won't receive it until 2027

Ferrari's first all-electric vehicle has made history even before reaching its buyer. A bespoke 2026 Ferrari Luce, identified as "Chassis 0" and described as the first production chassis from the Luce programme, sold for exactly $40 million at an RM Sotheby's charity auction in Monterey on Saturday.

As Road & Track reported, the record-breaking sale makes the electric Ferrari the most expensive new car ever sold at auction. The auction house waived its buyer's premium, meaning the entire $40 million will go to The Ferrari Foundation, which plans to use the proceeds for future educational initiatives.

Despite the eye-watering sale price, the buyer will not take delivery of the car until the first quarter of 2027. The vehicle is expected to return to Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello before being delivered.


The $40 million sale surpassed the previous record set in 2025, when a customised Ferrari Daytona SP3 sold for $26 million at auction.

The Luce's result is particularly notable given the criticism Ferrari faced from some traditionalists following the unveiling of its first fully electric model. Ferrari introduced the Luce in May with a starting price of €550,000, or around $636,356.

The vehicle represents a major departure from Ferrari's traditional combustion-engine sports cars. The model was designed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive.


The auction car was created through Ferrari's Tailor Made programme and was designed around the theme of light. Its bespoke exterior is finished in Madreperla Semi-Gloss, featuring a dedicated pigment that shifts between green and violet depending on the angle and intensity of the light.

Inside, the cabin is upholstered in Perla Le Mans metallic leather made from selected Swiss hides. Other interior elements that would typically be black have been finished in Grigio Corvara.

The car also features bespoke wheels, customised brake calipers and a Ferrari logo set against an optical-white background. Ferrari says the complexity of the paint application means that no two examples will look exactly alike.

However, the biggest distinction is its "Chassis 0" status. Ferrari describes it as the first production chassis of the Luce programme, giving the buyer a unique piece of the marque's electric-car history.


According to Ferrari's official website, the Luce is powered by four electric motors, with one motor driving each wheel. The powertrain produces 1,050 cv and allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds.

The electric four-door has a claimed top speed of 310 km/h and a range of 530 kilometres on a full charge. It uses a 122 kWh battery pack, an 800-volt electrical architecture and weighs 2,260 kilograms.

Ferrari describes the Luce as a spacious hatchback capable of seating five people.

The vehicle uses a new vehicle control unit designed to network its various systems, with targets updated 200 times per second. The front motors produce 210 kW at the axle, while the rear motors generate 620 kW.



The Luce features a separate elastically mounted subframe, which Ferrari says is a first for the brand and helps reduce unwanted vibrations. A precision accelerometer at the centre of the rear axle monitors the natural frequencies of rotating components.

Ferrari says those frequencies are then processed to create a sound reminiscent of the brand's traditional engines, using an approach similar to that of an electric guitar.

The car also features a Torque Shift Engagement system designed to progressively deliver torque during cornering. An e-manettino manages power, torque curves, traction and performance through Range, Tour and Performance settings.

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said after the car's unveiling that the Luce had attracted orders from both existing and new customers.

"The Ferrari Luce has nothing to do with electric cars you have seen from other players," Vigna said in May, adding that customers would need to see and drive the car to understand how distinct its design, performance and interior are.

With its $40 million charity-auction sale, the Ferrari Luce has now secured a place in automotive history before its first customer delivery.
Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.

Despite the eye-watering sale price, the buyer will not take delivery of the car until the first quarter of 2027. The vehicle is expected to return to Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello before being delivered.

Ferrari Luce breaks previous $26 million record

The $40 million sale surpassed the previous record set in 2025, when a customised Ferrari Daytona SP3 sold for $26 million at auction.

The Luce's result is particularly notable given the criticism Ferrari faced from some traditionalists following the unveiling of its first fully electric model. Ferrari introduced the Luce in May with a starting price of €550,000, or around $636,356.

What makes the $40 million Ferrari Luce special?

Inside, the cabin is upholstered in Perla Le Mans metallic leather made from selected Swiss hides. Other interior elements that would typically be black have been finished in Grigio Corvara.

The car also features bespoke wheels, customised brake calipers and a Ferrari logo set against an optical-white background. Ferrari says the complexity of the paint application means that no two examples will look exactly alike.

However, the biggest distinction is its "Chassis 0" status. Ferrari describes it as the first production chassis of the Luce programme, giving the buyer a unique piece of the marque's electric-car history.

Ferrari Luce packs more than 1,000 horsepower

According to Ferrari's official website, the Luce is powered by four electric motors, with one motor driving each wheel. The powertrain produces 1,050 cv and allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds.

The electric four-door has a claimed top speed of 310 km/h and a range of 530 kilometres on a full charge. It uses a 122 kWh battery pack, an 800-volt electrical architecture and weighs 2,260 kilograms.

Ferrari describes the Luce as a spacious hatchback capable of seating five people.

The vehicle uses a new vehicle control unit designed to network its various systems, with targets updated 200 times per second. The front motors produce 210 kW at the axle, while the rear motors generate 620 kW.

Ferrari aims to make its EV feel like a Ferrari

Ferrari has also focused heavily on preserving the driving character associated with its combustion-engine models.

The Luce features a separate elastically mounted subframe, which Ferrari says is a first for the brand and helps reduce unwanted vibrations. A precision accelerometer at the centre of the rear axle monitors the natural frequencies of rotating components.

Ferrari says those frequencies are then processed to create a sound reminiscent of the brand's traditional engines, using an approach similar to that of an electric guitar.

The car also features a Torque Shift Engagement system designed to progressively deliver torque during cornering. An e-manettino manages power, torque curves, traction and performance through Range, Tour and Performance settings.

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said after the car's unveiling that the Luce had attracted orders from both existing and new customers.

"The Ferrari Luce has nothing to do with electric cars you have seen from other players," Vigna said in May, adding that customers would need to see and drive the car to understand how distinct its design, performance and interior are.

With its $40 million charity-auction sale, the Ferrari Luce has now secured a place in automotive history before its first customer delivery.

Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.

Comments

Be the first to share a thought and become theFirst Voiceof this News Article

More stories