Pope Leo XIV Tests Ferrari's First Electric Car: Price Revealed
JAKARTA, CNBC Indonesia — Ferrari officially introduced their first fully electric car, the Luce EV, to Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, Italy. During the event, the Pope reportedly test-drove the luxury electric vehicle priced at hundreds of thousands of euros.
The moment occurred when Ferrari President John Elkann brought the Luce to the papal summer residence south of Rome on Tuesday (26/5/2026) local time. Pope Leo XIV was seen sitting in the driver’s seat while listening to the Ferrari test driver, Raffaele De Simone, explain the vehicle’s features. Elkann sat in the passenger seat.
“Is this Ferrari’s first four-door model?” asked Pope Leo XIV, according to local media.
“The first five-seater,” Elkann replied.
Ferrari named its first electric car “Luce”, meaning “light” in Italian. The car is powered by 1,000 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds.
Additionally, the Luce claims a range of over 530 km on a single charge and uses four electric motors, one for each wheel.
Italian media reported the Luce is estimated to cost 500,000 euros, or approximately Rp10.38 billion at an exchange rate of Rp20,770 per euro. The official price for the US market has not yet been announced.
“We are not just launching a new car; we are formalising a chapter that turns our vision into reality, strengthening Ferrari’s tradition of anticipating and shaping the future,” Elkann stated, as quoted by ABC News on Friday (29/5/2026).
Despite the lavish launch and global attention due to Pope Leo XIV’s involvement, market response to Ferrari’s first electric car has been lukewarm.
Ferrari’s shares dropped 8.4% in Milan trading following the launch, while US-listed shares fell 5.3%.
Criticism also emerged from automotive experts and netizens who felt the Luce’s design no longer represents Ferrari’s signature character. Autocar Editor-at-Large Matt Prior said the electric vehicle appears taller and less sleek than conventional Ferrari models due to the battery placement under the floor.
He noted that this design change poses a significant challenge for Ferrari, long associated with low-profile, dynamic sports cars. Prior added that transitioning to electric vehicles may be more difficult for Ferrari than other automakers due to its strong brand identity.
Ferrari has previously invested billions of euros in electric vehicle development. However, the company has become more cautious after reducing its target for full electric vehicles in its lineup by 2030 from 40% to 20%.
The Luce launch occurred amid a global electric vehicle market still facing challenges. Several automakers are scaling back electrification efforts due to slowing demand and high development costs.
Nevertheless, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported global electric vehicle sales reached 20 million units last year, equivalent to one in four new cars sold worldwide.