Ferrari just made history for reasons that have nothing to do with a race track. At the RM Sotheby’s auction during Monterey Car Week, the very first production example of the Ferrari Luce — Ferrari’s first fully electric car — sold for US$40 million, roughly A$56 million. The buyer paid more than 60 times the car’s original recommended price, turning a single vehicle sale into the most expensive new car ever sold at auction. Every dollar of the sale goes straight to The Ferrari Foundation, which supports education initiatives, since Sotheby’s waived its usual buyer’s premium for the occasion.
Meet the Ferrari Luce
The Luce is Ferrari’s first fully electric production car, and it’s a genuine departure for a brand built on the roar of combustion engines. It was designed with LoveFrom, the studio founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive alongside designer Marc Newson, and it comes with four doors — another first for the marque. Under the skin sits an electric motor at each wheel, a 122kWh battery, and an 800-volt electrical system producing a claimed 772kW (over 1,000 horsepower). Ferrari claims a 0–100km/h sprint of just 2.5 seconds and a driving range of around 529km.
Why “Chassis 0” Went for So Much
The car auctioned wasn’t just any Luce — it was “Chassis 0,” the first production unit ever built, finished through Ferrari’s exclusive Tailor Made program. Its one-off paint, called Madreperla Semi-Gloss, shifts between green and violet depending on the light, and the interior uses a special leather trim never before offered on a Luce. Collectors weren’t just buying a car; they were buying the very first of a new era for Ferrari, customized to a level no regular customer could order. That combination of rarity, customization, and history is what pushed the price so far past its US$1.1 million pre-auction estimate.
Who Bought It
The winning bid came from Dr. Herbert Wertheim, an 87-year-old billionaire optometrist and philanthropist known for donating hundreds of millions of dollars to education and medical research. This isn’t his first record-setting Ferrari purchase either — at Monterey Car Week the previous year, he paid US$26 million for a one-off Tailor Made Daytona SP3, which was, at the time, the most expensive new car ever sold at auction. His Luce purchase beat that record by more than 50%.
A Controversial Car Finds Its Fans
The Luce hasn’t had an easy welcome. When Ferrari unveiled its first electric production car in May, the announcement was met with sharp criticism from purists, and the company’s share price dropped as investors questioned the shift. Even former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo warned the brand risked “destroying a myth” by going electric. Yet the record-shattering auction result suggests the Luce’s appeal reaches well beyond traditional Ferrari buyers — even skeptics can’t ignore the demand a “first of its kind” Ferrari commands among serious collectors.
What Happens Next
Despite the eye-watering price tag, the new owner won’t be driving Chassis 0 home any time soon. The car will first return to Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy, with final delivery expected in early 2027. Regular customer deliveries of the Luce are tracking on a similar timeline, meaning most buyers — including those in markets like Australia — are still more than a year away from getting their own, far less expensive, version of Ferrari’s electric debut.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Model | Ferrari Luce (Ferrari’s first fully electric production car) |
| Sale price | US$40 million (approx. A$56 million) |
| Auction house | RM Sotheby’s, Monterey Car Week |
| Chassis | “Chassis 0” — first production unit, Tailor Made program |
| Buyer | Dr. Herbert Wertheim |
| Proceeds | The Ferrari Foundation (education initiatives) |
| Power output | 772kW (approx. 1,035 hp) |
| 0–100km/h | Claimed 2.5 seconds |
| Battery / range | 122kWh, claimed 529km range |
| Designer | LoveFrom (Jony Ive & Marc Newson) |
| Delivery | Early 2027 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ferrari Luce really Ferrari’s first electric car?
Yes. It’s the brand’s first fully electric production model, following years of Ferrari using electrification only in hybrids like the LaFerrari.
Why did it sell for so much more than its estimate?
It was the first production chassis ever built, finished as a one-off Tailor Made commission, and the proceeds went entirely to charity — all of which drove intense bidding interest.
How much does a regular Ferrari Luce cost?
Ferrari’s recommended retail price is around US$640,000, making the auctioned car’s sale price more than 60 times the standard price.
Where does the money from the sale go?
The full US$40 million goes to The Ferrari Foundation to support educational initiatives, since RM Sotheby’s waived its buyer’s premium.
When will the buyer receive the car?
The car returns to Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters first, with delivery to the buyer expected in early 2027.
When can regular customers buy a Ferrari Luce?
Customer deliveries are expected on a similar timeline, arriving in various markets, including Australia, from around late 2027.