Ferrari Luce EV Sets $40 Million Auction Record

Ferrari’s first electric car, the Luce, sold for $40 million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, far exceeding its $1.1 million estimate. The entire sale price will benefit The Ferrari Foundation, making the result both an auction milestone and a major charitable contribution.Photo by Ferrari

A $40 Million First Production Luce

The car sold was “Chassis 0,” the first production example associated with Ferrari’s Luce program. RM Sotheby’s offered it without a reserve and did not charge a buyer’s premium, meaning the reported $40 million represents the final hammer price and the amount going to charity.

Ferrari commissioned the car through its Tailor Made personalization program. Its exterior uses a unique Madreperla Semi-Gloss finish that can appear green or violet depending on the lighting. Inside, Ferrari specified Perla-colored Le Mans metallic leather with Grigio Corvara detailing.

The car also receives bespoke wheels, custom brake calipers and additional Ferrari-specific design touches. However, the winning bidder will not take delivery immediately. Ferrari plans to return the vehicle to Maranello for final assembly, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2027.

The Auction Price Was Far Above Its Estimate

The $40 million result is particularly notable because RM Sotheby’s had estimated the car at only $1.1 million before the sale. The final price therefore reached more than 36 times the original estimate.

It is also dramatically higher than the Luce’s regular pricing. Ferrari lists the model at approximately €550,000, or about $640,000, depending on exchange rates.

The charity element is an important part of the result. All proceeds are being directed to The Ferrari Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization that supports educational initiatives.

Ferrari has used special auction cars for charitable fundraising before. A unique LaFerrari Aperta sold for $10 million in 2017, with proceeds supporting earthquake relief efforts.

Ferrari Has Set Another Auction Benchmark

The Luce result follows another major Ferrari charity sale at the same Monterey event. In 2025, a one-off Daytona SP3 produced outside the model’s original 599-car allocation reached $26 million.

The Luce surpassed that figure by roughly 54%, setting a new high for this type of Ferrari charity auction.

The comparison with historically significant collector cars is also striking. A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold through RM Sotheby’s for $48.4 million in 2018, placing the new Luce result within $10 million of one of the most valuable cars ever sold at public auction.

The difference is that the Luce is a brand-new electric model that has not yet reached customer deliveries, rather than a decades-old racing or collector car.

The Luce Has Had A Complicated Start

Ferrari’s first EV has attracted considerable attention since its public debut. Its initial reception was mixed, including criticism surrounding the use of the Ferrari name on an electric vehicle and a decline in Ferrari’s stock following the unveiling.

Despite that reaction, demand has been strong enough to produce a very different commercial picture.

Ferrari reportedly sold out its 2026 allocation of fewer than 500 Luce vehicles in less than two months, well before customer deliveries began. That suggests the controversy around the model has not prevented buyers from committing to Ferrari’s first battery-electric vehicle.

The $40 million auction result should be viewed separately from normal customer demand, however. The winning bid reflects the car’s status as the first production example, its one-off specification and its charitable purpose, rather than the expected market value of a standard Luce.

What Makes This Luce Different?

The auction car is not simply the first Luce to leave Ferrari. Its Tailor Made specification gives it a combination of colors, materials and details that will make it distinct from regular production cars.

Its unusual paint changes appearance depending on the light, while the interior uses a specific combination of metallic leather and contrasting trim. Ferrari also equipped it with unique wheels and other personalized components.

That exclusivity matters in an auction setting. Buyers competing for a one-of-one or first-production Ferrari are often purchasing provenance and rarity as much as the underlying vehicle.

For Ferrari, the sale also provides a high-profile introduction to its transition into electric vehicles, while directing a substantial amount of money toward the company’s charitable foundation.

Photo by Ferrari

FAQ

How much did Ferrari’s first Luce EV sell for?

The first production Ferrari Luce sold for $40 million at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction. That was more than 36 times its $1.1 million pre-sale estimate.

Why did the Ferrari Luce sell for $40 million?

The price was influenced by the car’s status as Chassis 0, its unique Tailor Made specification and the charitable nature of the auction. The full sale proceeds benefit The Ferrari Foundation.