Ferrari’s first all-electric car has made history before even hitting the road in significant numbers.
A tailor-made Ferrari Luce sold for $40 million (about R646 million) at a Sotheby’s charity auction during Monterey Car Week in California, making it the most expensive new car ever sold at auction.
The sale smashed the previous record of $26 million, set last year by a customised Ferrari Daytona SP3.
The buyer’s identity has not been revealed.
A controversial Ferrari
Ferrari unveiled the Luce in May with a starting price of around €550,000 (R11 million). Its move away from Ferrari’s traditional combustion-engine sports cars sparked criticism and contributed to a decline in the company’s share price at the time.
The record-breaking auction, however, suggests that Ferrari’s reputation for exclusivity remains powerful.
The company is expected to sell its initial run of several hundred Luce models, using its established strategy of limited production and rewarding loyal customers with access to its most exclusive cars.
The Luce combines more than 1,000 horsepower with four doors, marking a significant departure from Ferrari’s traditional sports-car formula.
Designed with an Apple connection
The electric Ferrari was designed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the design studio founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, one of the key figures behind the design of the iPhone and iMac.
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna has defended the car’s distinctive design and performance, arguing that the Luce offers an experience unlike other electric vehicles.
Ferrari has yet to release detailed sales figures for the model, making demand for used Luce vehicles an important indicator of whether its appeal extends beyond the initial excitement.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s shares have gained about 13% this year, supported by strong demand for high-priced limited-production models including the $3.6 million F80 hybrid.
The Luce sale demonstrates that, despite the scepticism surrounding Ferrari’s move into electric vehicles, scarcity, performance and the Ferrari badge still command extraordinary prices.
Main Image: Euronews
