A mysterious cargo of luxury cars worth an estimated $335–400 million (around Rs 2,962–3,537 crore) sank in the Atlantic Ocean after a fire broke out on the Felicity Ace cargo ship. The ship was en route from Emden, Germany, to Davisville, USA, carrying nearly 4,000 customized vehicles for clients across multiple countries.
The fire occurred on February 16, 2022, dramatically altering the fate of the shipment. The cargo included cars from Volkswagen Group’s premium brands, such as Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen. Many vehicles were specially customized for international buyers, making the loss even more significant.
Massive Losses in Luxury Fleet
At the time of the fire, Felicity Ace carried 3,965 vehicles. Audi accounted for 1,944 cars, while Porsche had 1,117 units on board. The shipment also included 189 Bentleys and 85 Lamborghinis, all of which were lost to the sea. Volkswagen vehicles included five ID.4 units labeled for testing, one Taigo (not sold in the U.S.), and 83 Golf models.
Among Audi models, there were 50 Q3S, three A4 Cabriolets, 44 A5 Sportbacks, 10 A5 Coupes, 34 e-Trons, and nine e-Tron Sportbacks. Porsche’s shipment included 126 Cayenne units from the Bratislava factory, 718 911 and 23 Taycan models, and 25 additional Taycans with average weights matching factory specifications. Nineteen Leipzig 62 models were also aboard, likely Macan or Panamera.
Bentley models included three Continental Flying Spurs, six Continental GTs, 12 Continental GTCs, and 12 Bentayga SUVs. Lamborghini’s shipment contained five Huracáns, six Aventadors, and ten Urus SUVs, including some limited-edition Aventador Ultima units remade for customer orders.
Old Cars Among the New
In addition to brand-new luxury cars, the cargo included older vehicles such as a 2015 Porsche Cayenne, 2015 Ford Mustang, 2014 Kia Soul, 2018 Nissan Versa Note, 2017 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2007 BMW 750i. The most unexpected vehicle was a 1996 Honda Prelude SiR, reportedly the 65th unit ever made.
Sunken Treasure at Ocean Depths
The wreck now rests approximately 3,500 meters (2.17 miles) beneath the Atlantic Ocean. Although these vehicles were built for the roads of the world, they now lie at the bottom of the sea, forming one of the most extraordinary lost shipments in automotive history.
