Viareggio, Italy – The launch of M/Y Lumina, the newest yacht in the Benetti Class 44M series, has marked not only another milestone for the Azimut|Benetti Group but also the beginning of a major €100 million investment programme aimed at strengthening its superyacht production facilities in Tuscany over the next three years.

The ceremony, held at Benetti’s historic shipyard in Viareggio, followed the traditional slipway launch, a centuries-old maritime ritual that reflects the company’s deep-rooted connection to Italian shipbuilding heritage while highlighting Tuscany’s continuing role as the industrial heart of the Group’s superyacht business.

Designed by Cassetta Yacht Designers, the 44-metre, four-deck superyacht features spacious, light-filled interiors and advanced engineering solutions designed to maximize privacy, comfort and long-range cruising capabilities. Delivery of M/Y Lumina is scheduled for the summer of 2026.

The launch comes as the Azimut|Benetti Group continues to strengthen its position as the world’s leading builder of superyachts. Over the past five years, the company has doubled its production value, increasing from €758 million in 2020 to €1.56 billion in 2025. This growth has been supported by continuous investments in engineering, manufacturing technologies and technical expertise, enabling the Group to remain at the forefront of the global luxury yachting industry.

Tuscany remains central to the company’s superyacht operations. With 14 production facilities located across Viareggio, Livorno, Massa and Pisa, the region accounts for approximately 70 percent of the Group’s global business.

Building on the €77 million already invested in Tuscany over the past three years, the Group has announced a further €100 million investment for the 2026–2028 period. The new programme is designed to expand production capacity, improve workplace safety, accelerate the energy transition and reinforce the company’s engineering and technological capabilities.

Key projects include the expansion of production facilities through larger construction sheds, new travel lifts and upgraded manufacturing systems, alongside investments in renewable energy through photovoltaic installations and energy-efficiency improvements. The plan also includes the renovation of executive offices and customer hospitality areas, continued development of new yacht models, materials and technologies, and the expansion of Lusben Refit facilities to strengthen the Group’s refit operations.

The investment strategy is equally focused on people. Between 2020 and 2026, the Group has significantly expanded its workforce in Tuscany, with direct employees increasing from 442 to more than 600. Across its regional operations, nearly 3,800 people work daily through a network of more than 1,000 partner companies, highlighting the strength of the local supply chain.

Developing skilled professionals remains a key priority. Through continuous recruitment and training initiatives, as well as its support for the ISYL Foundation (Italian Super Yacht Life), of which the Group is a founding member, Benetti continues to invest in the next generation of yacht-building specialists. Since 2015, more than 600 graduates have entered the industry through the foundation’s education-to-employment programmes.

The launch of M/Y Lumina therefore represents more than the delivery of a new superyacht. It reflects the Azimut|Benetti Group’s long-term commitment to innovation, craftsmanship and sustainable industrial growth, while reaffirming Tuscany’s position as the cornerstone of the company’s global superyacht production and future development.

M/Y LUMINA – TECH SPECS