Mazda May Force Ferrari’s First Electric Car To Change Its Name

Ferrari is just about to unveil its first all-electric car, but the project has already run into an unusual problem. The name Luce, which the Italian manufacturer recently revealed as the name of its electric model, could be the subject of a legal dispute after Mazda filed a trademark application for the same name.

Ferrari first mentioned the name “Luce” in early February 2026 when it unveiled the interior of its upcoming electric model. Shortly after, the company filed an official application in Italy to trademark the name. However, a few weeks later, on March 4, Mazda filed its own application in Japan to trademark the same name, which could complicate Ferrari’s plans in some markets.

The Luce name is not new to Mazda. The Japanese manufacturer used it for its former luxury model, which was produced from the 1960s to the early 1990s. In some countries, the car was also known as the Mazda 929, but the Luce name still has a certain historical value within the brand. Mazda recalled it in 2017 when it presented the Vision Coupe concept, inspired by the 1969 Luce Rotary Coupe.

Such moves are not uncommon in the automotive industry. Manufacturers often renew or re-register old names to protect them from competition, even when they don’t plan to launch a new model with that name. However, the timing of Mazda’s application has drawn a lot of comment, as it comes at a time when Ferrari is preparing to launch its first electric car.

If Mazda manages to secure the rights to the Luce name in certain markets, Ferrari could be forced to find a new name before sales begin. Such situations are not unknown in the automotive industry and happen all the time. Alfa Romeo had to change the name of its Milano crossover to Junior shortly after its launch because the model was not manufactured in Italy, which caused political and legal pressure. Back in 1963, Porsche had to change the name of its new sports model, which was supposed to be called the 901. Peugeot had previously trademarked all names with three digits and a zero in the middle, so the 901 became the 911.

Mazda Luce

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