40 times higher than forecasts: Ferrari electric vehicle sold for $40,000,000
The first production chassis of the Ferrari Luce was sold at an RM Sotheby's auction for a staggering sum. The final price left the industry in shock, as it is dozens of times higher than the preliminary estimates of $1.1 million.
One hammer strike, one car, and a price that completely shattered expectations: the first production chassis of the Ferrari Luce — the first mass-produced electric car in the history of the Maranello brand — was sold at an RM Sotheby's auction during Monterey Car Week for a staggering $40 million.
The final price left the industry in shock, as it was dozens of times higher than preliminary estimates of $1.1 million, setting a new world record for a new car sold at auction.
The model sold is not a regular Luce, but "Chassis 0" — the first unit to come off the production line. The car was ordered via the Tailor Made personalization program and painted in Madreperla Semi-Gloss, a pearl-white with shifting reflections between green and purple. The cabin features Le Mans Perla metallic leather and a unique dedication plate marking its historical status. Under the exterior are four electric motors producing 1,050 horsepower, launching the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds.
The bidding was intense: it opened at $1 million, crossed the $5 million mark within seconds, and climbed rapidly until reaching the winning bid. The full amount will be transferred to the Ferrari Foundation to support educational initiatives, including the restoration of a school in California damaged by fire. The buyer's identity remains confidential, but the industry estimates the purchase grants the owner rare status and priority access to all future top-tier models.
The deal surpassed automotive legends like the McLaren F1 GTR, sold for $34.6 million, and the previous record set by the Ferrari Daytona SP3. Despite design criticism from experts like Giorgetto Giugiaro and Fabio Filippini, the collector market provided a resounding answer. The massive demand proved that even in the transition to electric propulsion, the status of the Prancing Horse from Maranello remains stronger than ever.
