Ferrari's first ever all-electric car has fetched $40m (\u00a329.5m) in a charity sale, setting a record for a new car sold at auction.<\/p>\n
The Sotheby's auction in California raised more than 35 times the usual price of a Ferrari Luce. The auction catalogue said it is a special model featuring a unique finish and bespoke parts.<\/p>\n
The Luce, the brainchild of iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive, faced a backlash when it was launched in May after some commentators said it had strayed from the marque's traditional designs and lost part of the brand's identity by being battery-powered and having five seats.<\/p>\n
Sotheby's said all proceeds of the sale will be donated to the Ferrari Foundation's educational programmes.<\/p>\n
Sotheby's did not name the buyer of the custom Luce. The BBC has contacted the auction house and Ferrari for more information.<\/p>\n
The unveiling of the Luce was seen as one of the biggest launches of a new car in recent years.<\/p>\n
It marked the prancing horse's first entry into the electric vehicle (EV) market – a sector dominated by Elon Musk's Tesla and China's carmakers.<\/p>\n
Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo were invited to view the luxury brand's the vehicle.<\/p>\n
But Ferrari's shares dropped the day after the Luce's launch, following criticism of the car.<\/p>\n
It was also criticised by the company's former chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini.<\/p>\n
Sotheby's said in a statement, external that the auctioned vehicle marked an "unbeatable opportunity" to own the first production car of the Luce.<\/p>\n
The car has special wheels, customised brakes and an exclusive white finish.<\/p>\n
The charity sale marks a "tangible expression of innovation, responsibility, and long-term vision for future generations," Sotheby's said.<\/p>\n
A bespoke Daytona SP3 supercar raised $26m for the carmaker's education initiatives at an auction in 2025. At the time it set a record for the highest-price paid for a new Ferrari sold at auction.<\/p>\n
Ferrari wanted to take on Chinese EVs with the Luce – then the backlash started<\/p>\n