Ferrari’s First Electric Car, the Luce, Draws Heavy Criticism from Fans and Former Officials

The Story

Ferrari unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, the Luce EV, in Rome in late May 2026, triggering a wave of negative reactions from owners, design experts, and former company leaders. The five-seater sedan, developed with input from former Apple design chief Jony Ive, saw Ferrari’s stock price drop roughly 8 percent following its debut. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna later said the car was generating buyer interest despite the backlash.

Key Facts

• Ferrari unveiled its first fully electric car, the Luce EV, in May 2026 at a launch event in Rome.
• The design received widespread criticism from Ferrari fans, owners’ club members, and former executives.
• Ferrari’s stock price fell approximately 8 percent after the unveiling; The Guardian reported an 8.4% drop in Milan and a 5.3% decline in US-listed shares, while Wired reported an 8% drop.
• Former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo criticized the Luce, with The Guardian reporting he suggested removing the prancing horse logo and Wired reporting he said “We risk the destruction of a myth.”
• Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini also criticized the car, invoking founder Enzo Ferrari.
• Ferrari enlisted former Apple design chief Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson to work on the Luce’s interior and exterior.
• The Luce features an artificial engine sound created from mechanical noise picked up by sensors and amplified, according to both reports.
• The Luce is a five-seater electric sedan.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified across sources.

Still Unclear

• The exact purchase price of the Luce: Wired reports $650,000; The Guardian does not mention a price. (Single-source claim from Wired)
• The Luce’s acceleration time: Wired reports 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and notes Ferrari consulted NASA to manage acceleration sensations; The Guardian does not provide acceleration figures. (Single-source claim from Wired)
• CEO Benedetto Vigna’s comments about buyer interest and orders: The Guardian quotes Vigna saying three people wrote to him that day placing orders; Wired does not include this. (Single-source claim from The Guardian)
• The stock price recovery: The Guardian reports a 3.5% rebound on Thursday; Wired does not mention a recovery. (Single-source claim from The Guardian)
• Specific criticisms from three Italian car designers (Maurizio Corbi, Alessandro Cipolli, Carlo Gaino) appear only in Wired.
• Details about the Ferrari owners’ club Passione Rossa, including president Fabio Barone’s background and club activities, appear only in The Guardian.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the sources.

Key Figures

• Fabio Barone, president of the Passione Rossa Ferrari owners’ club
• Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and transport minister
• Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, former Ferrari chairman
• Benedetto Vigna, Ferrari CEO
• John Elkann, chairman of Ferrari and scion of the Agnelli family
• Jony Ive, former Apple design chief
• Marc Newson, designer
• Maurizio Corbi, car designer (Wired source)
• Alessandro Cipolli, car designer (Wired source)
• Carlo Gaino, designer and professor (Wired source)
• Alex Tedino, member of Passione Rossa (The Guardian source)

Sources: The Guardian, Wired