Ferrari's bespoke Luce EV one-off fetches $40 million at charity auction

MILAN - Ferrari has sold a bespoke, one-off version of its first fully electric vehicle, the Luce, for $40 million at a charity auction, the company announced. The funds raised will be used to support education initiatives through the Ferrari Foundation, benefiting young people across the United States and beyond.

U.S. billionaire investor and Ferrari enthusiast, Herbert A. Wertheim, purchased the vehicle at the auction, which took place during Monterey Car Week. Wertheim, an optometrist and founder of Brain Power Inc., an optical lens technologies manufacturer, bid for the vehicle, known as "Chassis 0" and crafted by Ferrari's Tailor Made division and design centre.

The auction, organized in partnership with RM Sotheby’s, occurred at a time when Ferrari was striving to generate enthusiasm around the Luce. The vehicle, unveiled in May as the most radical product launch in Ferrari's history, initially faced a mixed reception. Critics, ranging from enthusiasts to analysts on social media, expressed concerns over its unconventional styling and its departure from the brand's legacy of combustion-engine cars.

Despite the criticism, the company reported strong interest, with orders for the Luce exceeding expectations, though specific figures were not disclosed.

The auction price for the unique vehicle set a new world record for the sale of a new car at auction, surpassing the $26 million paid for another one-off Ferrari Daytona SP3, also bought by Wertheim in the previous year. The success of the sale underscores the potential market for fully electric Ferraris, despite the initial skepticism.