Ferrari’s Luce EV sells for $40 million

Ferrari’s (RACE) first production Luce electric vehicle, identified as “Chassis 0,” achieved a sale price of US$40 million at a Sotheby’s charity auction during Monterey Car Week. The result positions the inaugural Luce as a headline transaction in the high‑end electric vehicle market and highlights strong demand for ultra‑limited, early production examples from established luxury marques.

The car was offered as a one‑off example tied to Ferrari’s (RACE) shift toward electrified models. Its sale as a dedicated charity lot gave bidders the opportunity to secure the first production Luce while contributing to a defined philanthropic cause connected to the brand.

The winning bidder was Herbert Wertheim, a billionaire based in Florida, who characterized the purchase as philanthropic. His acquisition of the car at US$40 million directs a substantial sum to charitable initiatives linked to Ferrari.

Proceeds from the auction are earmarked for the Ferrari Foundation. The Foundation will channel the funds into educational initiatives and related training programmes, aligning the sale with long‑term investment in skills and learning rather than commercial revenue for the automaker.

Following the conclusion of the Monterey Car Week auction, the Luce “Chassis 0” is scheduled to return to Ferrari’s facilities in Maranello. There, the vehicle will undergo further work as part of the final preparation process before handover to its owner.

Ferrari plans to deliver the completed car to Herbert Wertheim in the first quarter of 2027. The extended timeline reflects the bespoke nature of the project and formalizes when the first production Luce from this auction will transition from a headline charity lot to a customer‑owned vehicle.

The sale of the Luce “Chassis 0” demonstrates market willingness to assign a US$40 million valuation to Ferrari’s first production electric vehicle when tied to exclusivity and charitable impact. It also provides the Ferrari Foundation with a sizeable pool of capital to expand its educational and training agenda.

While the auction focused on a single car, the event underscores Ferrari’s entry into the EV segment with a highly visible, ultra‑premium model. The combination of philanthropic positioning, limited availability and a defined delivery schedule helps frame the Luce as both a brand milestone and a funding mechanism for the company’s foundation‑backed programmes.