Ferrari's first electric car sells for a record $40 million at auction

[Skye Jacobs]

In a nutshell: Ferrari's first electric vehicle sold for $40 million at a charity auction in California, setting a record for a new vehicle sold at auction. The result offers an early sign that Ferrari's brand power, and its appetite for limited, customized EVs, remain strong despite a contentious launch.

RM Sotheby's sold the first production example of the Ferrari Luce, a customized version of the company's new electric model. The buyer was not identified. The proceeds will go to the Ferrari Foundation's education programs.

The sale price was more than 35 times the Luce's usual price, and it also topped Ferrari's previous record for a new vehicle sold at auction. In 2025, a bespoke Daytona SP3 brought in $26 million for Ferrari's education initiatives.

The Luce is Ferrari's first move into the electric vehicle market. It was developed with input from former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive and was one of the company's most closely watched launches in recent years.

The model has drawn criticism since its May debut. Some critics said the five-seat, battery-powered vehicle moves too far from the designs that made Ferrari famous. Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini and former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo were among those who objected. Montezemolo said Ferrari was "risking the destruction of a legend."

Ferrari chief design officer Flavio Manzoni said in May that criticism comes with innovation and that he believed people would eventually appreciate the Luce.

The launch received unusual public attention. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo were invited to see the vehicle. Ferrari's shares, however, fell the day after the unveiling as criticism of the car spread.

Ferrari has not disclosed a sales target for the Luce, though the Financial Times reported that the company has already reached its goal for the year, helped by demand from China.

Sotheby's said the auction gave one buyer an "unbeatable opportunity" to own the first production Luce. The auction house called the sale a "tangible expression of innovation, responsibility, and long-term vision for future generations."

Ferraris regularly bring high prices at auction, especially limited-production and customized models, though the $40 million sale falls short of the all-time auction record for any vehicle. That belongs to a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which sold for $142 million in 2022.

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Ferrari's first electric car sells for a record $40 million at auction

 

[Homerlovesbeer]

Great way to launder money. Stupid way to invest.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Money doesnt buy you taste.

 

[psycros]

Clarkson is probably throwing an "end of the world" party at his bar right now.

 

[The Talking Tech]

One thing for sure.....

The K economy is real.....

There's no such thing as middle class anymore as those that have money have way too much and those that don't can't even afford gas fill ups.

 

[VitalyT]

WTF? This is by far the ugliest ferrari ever made, which was voted unanimously.

Whoever bought it, is a living proof that money cannot buy common sense.

 

[Megalomaniac]

These aren't "cars".

They are "art"

 

[Cyclone7d]

I guess that it's an electric car gives the manufacturer a cart blanche excuse for a toaster looking Ferrari. I heard that they even have an music file playing the classic Ferrari engine sound through a speaker too. I agree with the above posters, "art" and good taste never seem to correlate with having lots of money.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

One thing for sure.....

The K economy is real.....

There's no such thing as middle class anymore as those that have money have way too much and those that don't can't even afford gas fill ups.

The majority of american society is middle class. And they are all keeping on, not crying on social media about how they cant afford gas.

Maybe its time for you to move on from mcdonalds?

 

[Kashim]

One thing for sure.....

The K economy is real.....

There's no such thing as middle class anymore as those that have money have way too much and those that don't can't even afford gas fill ups.

Oh please, I'm so tired of Americans whining about rich people having all the money. It's hard to feel sorry for 300+ lbs lardos who drive $70,000+ pickup trucks, while talking on their $2,000 iPhone as they're on their daily fast food run, all the while crying about being in debt and living paycheck to paycheck. That is nobody's fault but your own.

 

[Kashim]

WTF? This is by far the ugliest ferrari ever made, which was voted unanimously.

Whoever bought it, is a living proof that money cannot buy common sense.

Right. I guess the phrase "personal taste" doesn't mean anything to you. Apparently, if YOU specifically dislike something it means that anyone else who disagrees with you must not have any common sense. Good thing we have YOU, random internet guy, to tell us what's cool and what isn't.

 

[sreams]

One thing for sure.....

The K economy is real.....

There's no such thing as middle class anymore as those that have money have way too much and those that don't can't even afford gas fill ups.

I, and pretty much everybody I know, am neither of these things. How is that possible?

 

[sreams]

Right. I guess the phrase "personal taste" doesn't mean anything to you. Apparently, if YOU specifically dislike something it means that anyone else who disagrees with you must not have any common sense. Good thing we have YOU, random internet guy, to tell us what's cool and what isn't.

Look around. Read articles about it. See what people are saying. The consensus is pretty much that this thing is ugly and has terrible proportions.

 

[FrancB]

Look around. Read articles about it. See what people are saying. The consensus is pretty much that this thing is ugly and has terrible proportions.

For instance, Mr Nobody Luca di Montezemolo publicly stated that he did not wish to see the Ferrari logo on this car.

 

[LordVile95]

Look around. Read articles about it. See what people are saying. The consensus is pretty much that this thing is ugly and has terrible proportions.

And I’m sure that’s the only opinion that can be had becaure whatever people say online is the only opinion people can have

 

[LordVile95]

Oh please, I'm so tired of Americans whining about rich people having all the money. It's hard to feel sorry for 300+ lbs lardos who drive $70,000+ pickup trucks, while talking on their $2,000 iPhone as they're on their daily fast food run, all the while crying about being in debt and living paycheck to paycheck. That is nobody's fault but your own.

Any example of that person?

 

[VitalyT]

Right. I guess the phrase "personal taste" doesn't mean anything to you. Apparently, if YOU specifically dislike something it means that anyone else who disagrees with you must not have any common sense. Good thing we have YOU, random internet guy, to tell us what's cool and what isn't.

Do you know what word "unanimous" means? It means that community at large, online and on youtube responded all very negative about this ferrari crap.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Oh please, I'm so tired of Americans whining about rich people having all the money. It's hard to feel sorry for 300+ lbs lardos who drive $70,000+ pickup trucks, while talking on their $2,000 iPhone as they're on their daily fast food run, all the while crying about being in debt and living paycheck to paycheck. That is nobody's fault but your own.

You don't have to live in ignorance a simply Google search of:

"statistically are people in the world right now living through the K economy?"

Even that simple question can educate you.

Dare to be educated....you cat fight statistical research, you can't fight the truth!

 

[The Talking Tech]

I, and pretty much everybody I know, am neither of these things. How is that possible?

You don't have to live in ignorance a simply Google search of:

"statistically are people in the world right now living through the K economy?"

Even that simple question can educate you.

Dare to be educated....you cat fight statistical research, you can't fight the truth!!

 

[The Talking Tech]

The majority of american society is middle class. And they are all keeping on, not crying on social media about how they cant afford gas.

Maybe its time for you to move on from mcdonalds?

You don't have to live in ignorance a simply Google search of:

"statistically are people in the world right now living through the K economy?"

Even that simple question can educate you.

Dare to be educated....you cat fight statistical research, you can't fight the truth!!!

 

[sreams]

You don't have to live in ignorance a simply Google search of:

"statistically are people in the world right now living through the K economy?"

Even that simple question can educate you.

Dare to be educated....you cat fight statistical research, you can't fight the truth!!!

You specifically said "there's no such thing as the middle class", which is objectively false.