Ferrari’s first fully electric vehicle, the Luce, has set a new record for the most expensive new car ever sold at auction after a bespoke one off version fetched $40 million during Monterey Car Week in California, according to Reuters and Financial Times. The vehicle, known as “Chassis 0,” was customised through Ferrari’s Tailor Made division and sold through RM Sotheby’s to US billionaire and longtime Ferrari collector Herbert A. Wertheim. All proceeds will support educational initiatives through the Ferrari Foundation.
The sale dramatically exceeded the car’s presale estimate of about $1.1 million and surpassed the previous record of $26 million, set by a Ferrari Daytona SP3. The standard Luce is priced from approximately €550,000, making the auction result a major premium for a unique first production chassis rather than an indication of the model’s regular market value.
The result carries wider significance for Ferrari as the luxury automaker accelerates its transition into electric vehicles while protecting the exclusivity that underpins its business model. The extraordinary price demonstrates the strength of collector demand for limited Ferrari models and gives the company a high profile showcase for its electrification strategy. It also highlights Ferrari’s ability to combine product innovation, scarcity and philanthropy to create significant commercial and cultural value.
For Ferrari, the next test will be converting the attention surrounding the Luce into sustained demand for its broader electric vehicle strategy. The $40 million auction should not be interpreted as the market value of a standard Luce, but it provides an important signal of collector interest in Ferrari’s first major step into the electric era and reinforces the value of its ultra limited bespoke business.
