Ferrari's first all-electric production car, the Luce, sold for $40m (£29.5m) at a Sotheby's charity auction in California, setting a record for a new car sold at auction, according to BBC News. The auction house said the vehicle is a special model with a unique finish and bespoke parts, and all proceeds will be donated to the Ferrari Foundation's educational programmes.
Sotheby's California Auction Sets New Record
According to BBC News, the auction raised more than 35 times the usual price of a Ferrari Luce, with the auction catalogue describing the car as a special model featuring a unique finish and bespoke parts. Sotheby's did not name the buyer of the custom Luce; the BBC has contacted the auction house and Ferrari for more information.
The bespoke features of the auctioned Luce include:
- Special wheels
- Customised brakes
- An exclusive white finish
Sotheby's said the auctioned vehicle marked an "unbeatable opportunity" to own the first production car of the Luce.
In a statement, Sotheby's said the charity sale represented a "tangible expression of innovation, responsibility, and long-term vision for future generations."
Ferrari Luce: The Brand's First Production EV
According to BBC News, the Luce was launched in May and is the brainchild of iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive. It marked Ferrari's first entry into the electric vehicle (EV) market, a sector dominated by Elon Musk's Tesla and China's carmakers. The unveiling was regarded as one of the biggest launches of a new car in recent years.
The car faced a backlash after its launch, with some commentators saying it had strayed from the marque's traditional designs and lost part of the brand's identity by being battery-powered and having five seats. Ferrari's shares dropped the day after the launch following the criticism. The vehicle also drew criticism from former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo were invited to view the luxury vehicle.
Record Comparison with the Daytona SP3
The Luce auction follows a 2025 sale in which a bespoke Daytona SP3 supercar raised $26m for the carmaker's education initiatives, according to BBC News. At that time, it set a record for the highest price paid for a new Ferrari at auction. The Luce's $40m result now surpasses that figure.
| Car | Auction Year | Amount | Beneficiary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrari Luce (custom EV) | 2026 | $40m (£29.5m) | Ferrari Foundation educational programmes |
| Bespoke Daytona SP3 | 2025 | $26m | Carmaker's education initiatives |
According to BBC News, the Luce's record sale comes in the same year as its launch, underscoring the commercial significance of Ferrari's first production electric vehicle. The auction house and Ferrari have not yet provided additional details about the buyer, and the BBC has contacted both for more information.
Sources:
