Ferrari’s first fully electric supercar has already made history, and it did so before customer deliveries have even begun. The first production chassis of the Ferrari Luce — Chassis 0 — has been sold at auction in California for $40 million, or roughly £29.5 million. The sale took place during Monterey Car Week, with RM Sotheby’s handling the auction in partnership with Ferrari. It is a record-setting result for a model that has not yet reached showrooms.
The Luce was always going to be a divisive car. Ferrari has spent decades building its reputation on the soundtrack and character of internal combustion engines, and the idea of an electric Ferrari has met resistance from traditionalists. But the auction result is a clear early signal: the market is taking Ferrari’s EV seriously. A production chassis, not a one-off prototype or a vintage icon, has now commanded a price that puts it alongside the most significant Ferraris ever sold.
A $40 Million Opening Bid for Ferrari’s Electric Future
For context, this is not a charity auction or a concept-car sale. Chassis 0 is described as the first production example of the Luce, meaning it is the vehicle that begins the actual production run. The fact that it sold for $40 million sets a remarkable benchmark for a car whose series production is just starting. The buyer gets a piece of Ferrari history: the very first production Ferrari EV, delivered into the collector market at the highest level.
The timing of the sale was strategic. Monterey Car Week is the epicenter of the collector car world, and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance draws the same crowd that typically craves classic V12 Ferraris. Holding the Luce auction there put the first EV in front of the people most likely to value its significance. The partnership with RM Sotheby’s, one of the most established names in the auction world, gave the sale institutional weight and helped turn what could have been a marketing moment into a real market transaction.
What the Luce Record Means for Enthusiasts and Buyers
For Ferrari enthusiasts, the Luce is a test of how far the brand’s DNA can stretch. Ferrari has embraced electrification in its lineup, but a full EV is a different proposition from a hybrid or a subtle assist system. The nameplate’s first zero-emission model is controversial precisely because it abandons the combustion heritage that made Ferrari famous. A $40 million result does not end that debate, but it does prove that collectors are willing to pay historic money for the first example of the new era.
For shoppers with a Luce on order, the record-setting price creates a unique market dynamic. Chassis 0 is not a used car in any ordinary sense; it is the first of the line, a one-off piece of history with a value that will be difficult to use as a direct comparison for later examples. But the headline result strengthens the car’s desirability and reinforces the idea that Ferrari can generate the same exclusivity and emotional pull with electric power as it did with combustion engines.
The auction also comes at an important moment for Ferrari in the broader sports car market. According to the reporting around the sale, Ferrari is seeking to rebuild its market momentum in the sports car segment, and a record-setting EV auction at Monterey Car Week is the kind of result that puts the brand back in a commanding position in the conversation. The Luce is not just a new model; it is a statement that Ferrari intends to lead the high-performance electric era rather than follow it.
The significance of the Luce extends beyond the auction block. Ferrari’s history is filled with firsts, from the original 250 GT to modern flagship hypercars, but this is an entirely new domain for the company. Customers who were not in the room at Monterey will now follow the Luce’s arrival with even greater attention, because the benchmark has been set at the very top of the market.
Customer deliveries of the Luce have not yet begun, so the real-world debut is still ahead. But before a single owner takes the wheel, Ferrari’s first EV has already delivered a result that will be measured for decades.