NewsStocksFerrari's First Electric Vehicle Sells for $40 Million at Monterey Auction

Ferrari's First Electric Vehicle Sells for $40 Million at Monterey Auction

Author: Fox Business Markets·

Key Takeaways

  • Ferrari's first fully electric car, the 2026 Luce designated "Chassis 0," sold for $40 million at RM Sotheby's Monterey auction with all proceeds directed to educational initiatives through the Ferrari Foundation.
  • The sale price ranks among the highest ever achieved for a car at auction and far exceeds previous first-off-the-line charity sales, such as the $3.6 million paid for the first 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
  • The one-of-a-kind Luce was configured through Ferrari's Tailor Made program, featuring a Madreperla Semi-Gloss iridescent exterior and Perla-colored Le Mans metallic leather interior from specially selected Swiss hides.
  • Under its 2022 Capital Markets Day product plan, Ferrari expects electric models to represent roughly 20 percent of its lineup by 2030, with hybrids accounting for a further 40 percent.
  • Final delivery to the winning bidder is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, after the car returns to Ferrari's Maranello headquarters.
Ferrari's First Electric Vehicle Sells for $40 Million at Monterey Auction

Ferrari's first fully electric vehicle has sold for a staggering $40 million at auction in Monterey, California.

The 2026 Ferrari Luce "Tailor Made," identified as "Chassis 0," is the first production chassis to come from the Italian luxury automaker's new electric vehicle program, according to RM Sotheby's. The one-of-a-kind car crossed the block during RM Sotheby's Monterey auction, with all proceeds directed to educational initiatives through the Ferrari Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. The buyer's premium was waived for the sale. The Monterey sale, held each August during Monterey Car Week, is one of the most closely watched events on the collector-car calendar, though its headline results have historically been set by decades-old racing machinery rather than brand-new production cars.

The Luce represents a major milestone for Ferrari as the company enters the fully electric vehicle market. Ferrari has described the model as the first fully electric car in the Prancing Horse's history. The marque has built electrified offerings since the limited-series LaFerrari hybrid of 2013, and hybrid families such as the SF90 and 296 now sit alongside its combustion models. Under the product plan Ferrari presented at its 2022 Capital Markets Day, the company expects electric models to account for roughly 20 percent of its lineup by 2030, with hybrids making up a further 40 percent. Preparations at its Maranello base included the 2024 opening of the "e-building," a facility that produces electric motors, batteries and other components for hybrid and electric cars.

At $40 million, the Luce ranks among the most expensive cars ever sold at auction, a territory previously occupied almost exclusively by vintage racing cars such as the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which changed hands for €135 million in 2022, and the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that fetched $48.4 million at RM Sotheby's Monterey sale in 2018. Automakers have a long tradition of auctioning the first example of a significant new model for charity — the first 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, for instance, brought $3.6 million at Barrett-Jackson — but the Luce's result stands far beyond previous first-off-the-line charity sales.

The $40 million example was configured through Ferrari's Tailor Made personalization program and carries several details developed specifically for the vehicle. Its exterior is finished in Madreperla Semi-Gloss paint, which Ferrari says produces iridescent reflections that shift from green to violet depending on the angle and intensity of the light.

Inside, the Luce features Perla-colored Le Mans metallic leather made from specially selected Swiss hides, complemented by Grigio Corvara secondary elements in place of traditional black trim. Ferrari also fitted the car with dedicated wheels, bespoke brake calipers, and special Ferrari badging set against an optical white background. A plaque identifies the vehicle as "Chassis 0," distinguishing it as the first production chassis in the Luce program.

The winning bidder will not take immediate possession. Following the auction, the car is expected to return to Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello, Italy, with final delivery currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. The wider rollout of the Luce to customers lies ahead, and the model's reception will offer an early read on demand for electric Ferraris within the company's stated lineup plan.

The vehicle was built to U.S. specifications. If it was purchased by a buyer outside the U.S., that buyer will be responsible for export, import, and federalization requirements, according to the auction listing.