Auction price exceeds 35 times the car’s usual cost
The Luce, the brainchild of iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive, carries a unique white finish, special wheels, customised brakes, and other bespoke parts that distinguish it from standard production models, according to the auction catalogue.
Sotheby’s described the offering as an “unbeatable opportunity” to own the first production car of the Luce line. The auction house characterised the charity sale as a “tangible expression of innovation, responsibility, and long-term vision for future generations” in a statement.
The auction set a record for the highest price paid for a new car at auction. A bespoke Daytona SP3 supercar raised $26 million for Ferrari’s education initiatives at an auction in 2025, which at the time held the record for the highest price paid for a new Ferrari at auction.
The $40 million result follows the vehicle’s launch in May, which drew criticism from some commentators who said the five-seat, battery-powered car had strayed from Ferrari’s traditional designs and lost part of the brand’s identity.
Ferrari’s share price dropped the day after the unveiling. The car was also criticised by the company’s former chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo had been invited to view the vehicle at its launch. The Luce marked Ferrari’s first entry into the electric vehicle market, a sector dominated by Tesla and Chinese carmakers.
The BBC has contacted the auction house and Ferrari for additional information about the buyer.