Full Breakdown
Ferrari’s First Electric Car Sets Auction Record at $40 Million
8/17/2026, 7:51:11 PM
Record-Breaking Sale
At the Monterey Car Week auction on August 17, 2026, the one-off “Tailor Made” Ferrari Luce chassis 0—Ferrari’s first production electric vehicle—hammered at $40 million. The lot was offered without reserve and RM Sotheby’s waived the buyer’s premium, directing the entire amount to the Ferrari Foundation’s educational programmes. The sale eclipsed the previous record of $26 million set by a bespoke Daytona SP3 in 2025.
Background & Context
Ferrari unveiled the Luce on May 25, 2026, positioning it as the marque’s entry into the fully electric market. Priced at €550,000 (about $640,000), the four-door, five-seat model features four electric motors delivering 1,050 hp and a 0–100 km/h time of 2.5 seconds. The design was created with LoveFrom, the studio founded by former Apple chief designer Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson. The launch provoked a wave of criticism, and Ferrari’s share price fell in the days that followed.
Data & Statistics
- Hammer price: $40 million (RM Sotheby’s)
- Pre-sale estimate: $1.1 million – $1.6 million (RM Sotheby’s)
- List price: €550,000 (~$640,000) (Ferrari)
- Powertrain: Four electric motors, total 1,050 hp (Ferrari)
- Acceleration: 0–100 km/h in 2.5 seconds (Ferrari)
- Range: 530 km (WLTP) (Ferrari)
- Paint: Madreperla Semi-Gloss, pigment shifts green-to-violet (Ferrari)
- Interior: Perla-coloured Le Mans metallic leather, Grigio Corvara trim (Ferrari)
- Delivery schedule: First-quarter 2027, after return to Maranello for final assembly (RM Sotheby’s)
Official Statements & Responses
The Ferrari Foundation confirmed that 100 % of the proceeds will fund future educational initiatives. Sotheby’s described the lot as an “unbeatable opportunity” to own the first production Luce and emphasized that the charitable nature ensured the full $40 million would benefit the foundation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The bids kept climbing. Then, history was made,” — Ferrari USA
- “I don’t think it’s necessarily that he loves a Luce, I think he’s a Ferrari enthusiast, he probably owns Formula One cars [and] is that level of a collector and probably needs a write-off,” — Kreaden. Top
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The buyer’s identity remains disputed. Motor1 reported the purchaser as Herbie Wertheim, a Florida-based billionaire inventor and philanthropist, while RM Sotheby’s and multiple other outlets explicitly noted that the buyer was not named. No official confirmation has been provided, leaving the exact ownership unclear.
Why It Matters
The auction demonstrates that Ferrari’s electric transition can generate extraordinary collector interest, even amid controversy. By converting a highly polarising launch into a $40 million charitable contribution, the marque reinforced its commitment to social responsibility while securing a historic market milestone. The record also signals that first-of-its-kind EVs can command premium valuations far beyond their retail pricing, potentially influencing future collector-driven pricing strategies for high-tech hypercars.
