The new Ferrari Luce sold out within hours of going on sale in China according to the latest reports from the country. 

The first electric Ferrari had a rough ride when it was revealed at the end of May, becoming an international meme as internet users queued up to make fun of the car penned by ex-Apple designer Jony Ive. And not even a visit to the pope was enough to bless the Luce's coverage. 

But it’s the Italian carmaker’s customers who will have the final say on whether the Luce is any good or not, and it seems that those buyers in China are in favour of the car, even amid a sharp downturn in the country’s new car market. 

Maybe it’s that the Chinese government’s famously tight control on the internet has meant that potential Ferrari buyers in the country haven’t seen any of the coverage of the controversial grand tourer. 

Though perhaps in deference to the drop in China’s car sales, the Chinese sticker price contains a modest discount on the £474,000 price tag that European buyers pay. 

All 88 of the Luces allocated to the Chinese market at 4m yuan apiece (£443,000, over £30k off the announced price) went almost immediately, but Ferrari representatives in Beijing have since said that the car is still available to order, so the allocation might have been increased. 

Ferrari hasn’t even officially launched the car in the country yet, it’s set to make its debut later this week at an event in Beijing. The Ferrari EV made its European debut at the recent Le Mans 24-Hour Race and we thought it looked better than in the official publicity shots at launch. 

The total number of planned cars hasn’t been revealed by Ferrari, but it’s been estimated to be anywhere between 2,000 and 4,000 cars. The Italian sports car manufacturer has however already sold all the Luces it can build in 2027. 

Fancy some alternative choices to the Luce? Check out our list here...