One-Off Ferrari Luce Becomes Most Expensive New Car Ever Sold at Auction
Ferrari’s first fully electric car has made history after a one-of-a-kind version sold for $40 million at a charity auction during Monterey Car Week in California.
The bespoke Ferrari Luce, known as “Chassis 0,” was sold through RM Sotheby’s for exactly $40 million. Ferrari said the extraordinary price set a new world record for a new car sold at auction.
The sale comfortably surpassed the previous record of $26 million, achieved by a one-off Ferrari Daytona SP3 at the same event last year.
Unlike initial reports suggesting the buyer was unidentified, Reuters reported that the Luce was purchased by US billionaire investor and Ferrari collector Herbert A. Wertheim, founder of optical lens technology company Brain Power Inc.
Wertheim was also the buyer of the record-setting Daytona SP3 in 2025.
All proceeds from the latest sale will go to the Ferrari Foundation.
Ferrari said the money will support educational initiatives for young people in the United States and other countries.
What Makes the $40 Million Ferrari Luce So Special?
The auctioned vehicle is not an ordinary production Luce.
RM Sotheby’s describes it as the first production chassis of Ferrari’s electric Luce programme and a unique vehicle developed through Ferrari’s Tailor Made division and design centre.
The exterior features an exclusive Madreperla Semi-Gloss finish developed specifically for the car.
The special pearlescent paint can produce changing green and violet reflections depending on the intensity and direction of light.
The cabin features metallic Perla leather with Grigio Corvara secondary elements.
Ferrari also created unique wheels, bespoke brake calipers and special Ferrari badges featuring an optical-white background exclusively for Chassis 0.
The vehicle will return to Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello following the auction.
RM Sotheby’s said final delivery to the buyer is currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
The Luce itself represents a historic change for Ferrari.
Unveiled in May 2026, it is the first fully electric road car produced by the Italian manufacturer and represents one of the most radical departures from Ferrari’s traditional combustion-engine identity.
The standard Luce carries a starting price of around €550,000, equivalent to approximately $638,400 at the exchange rate cited by Reuters.
Ferrari’s Electric Gamble Draws Debate but Strong Buyer Interest
The Luce generated intense debate when Ferrari unveiled it.
Its four-door, five-seat configuration and unconventional electric design divided enthusiasts, with some traditional Ferrari fans questioning whether an all-electric model could preserve the character associated with the company’s petrol-powered sports cars.
Ferrari nevertheless said in July that it was “very pleased” with customer orders for the Luce, although the company did not disclose detailed order numbers.
The $40 million auction result provides a dramatic boost to Ferrari’s electric ambitions.
The price does not represent the normal market value of a production Luce.
Instead, Chassis 0 combines the significance of being the first production chassis, extensive bespoke customisation, Ferrari collector appeal and the charitable nature of the auction.
The sale also demonstrates how Ferrari is attempting to carry its traditional strategy of scarcity, personalisation and exclusivity into the electric era.
Although the Luce represents a major break from Ferrari’s combustion-engine heritage, its record-setting auction has already secured the model a place in automotive history.
For Ferrari, the $40 million result delivers more than a headline price.
It establishes the company’s first electric vehicle as the most expensive new car ever sold at auction, while directing the entire sale amount toward educational projects through the Ferrari Foundation.
