A unique version of Ferrari's first fully electric car, the 2026 Ferrari Luce 'Tailor Made' Chassis 0, sold for $40 million at a RM Sotheby's charity auction during Monterey Car Week in California on August 17, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. This sale set a new auction record for the highest price paid for a new car, surpassing the previous $26 million record set in 2025 by a bespoke Ferrari Daytona SP3 Tailor Made [1, 2, 3].
The buyer is reported to be Herbie Wertheim, a Florida-based billionaire inventor, investor, and philanthropist, although RM Sotheby’s and Ferrari have not officially confirmed the identity [2, 3, 4, 5]. The auction house waived its buyer’s premium, and all proceeds will be donated to educational initiatives through the Ferrari Foundation [1, 6].
The Ferrari Luce was unveiled in May 2026 as the Italian automaker’s first fully electric vehicle, marking a shift from its traditional combustion-engine lineup [1, 2]. The four-door, five-seat Luce is powered by four electric motors producing a combined 1,050 horsepower, delivering acceleration from 0 to 100 kph in 2.5 seconds and a top speed exceeding 310 kph [1, 6]. It has a driving range of over 530 kilometers (329 miles) on a single charge [1, 6].
The 'Tailor Made' version auctioned features a semi-gloss mother-of-pearl exterior with green-to-violet reflections, metallic leather upholstery, bespoke wheels, and custom brake calipers designed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the creative studio founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson [1, 2, 5]. The Luce’s base price at launch was 550,000 euros (approximately $636,356), making the auction price about 35 times higher [2, 3].
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said at the car’s launch: "The Ferrari Luce is completely different from other electric cars you see from other manufacturers. You need to see it and drive it yourself to understand — it’s not a copy in interior, exterior, or performance" [2, 3, 4, 5]. Despite criticism from some Ferrari enthusiasts and a dip in Ferrari’s stock price after the Luce’s release, Vigna confirmed the car has already received orders from both existing and new customers [2, 3, 4].
Following the auction, the vehicle will return to Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy, before being delivered to the buyer in the first quarter of 2027 [1, 7, 6].
