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Longbow, a British electric sportscar manufacturer, has enlisted three former automotive industry CEOs—Mike Flewitt, Michael van der Sande, and Dan Balmer—to lead its advisory board. This strategic move strengthens Longbow’s path toward manufacturing its innovative Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs), the Speedster and Roadster, set for production in 2026. With a focus on lightweight, driver-centric sportscars, Longbow aims to redefine British automotive excellence.
Key Highlights:
- Industry Leaders Join Longbow: Former CEOs of McLaren, Lotus, and Alpine appointed as advisors.
- Featherweight Electric Vehicles: Longbow’s Speedster and Roadster prioritize lightweight design and performance.
- Production Timeline: Hand-built sportscars to be manufactured in the UK starting in 2026.
- Expertise Across Brands: Advisors bring experience from McLaren, Lotus, Tesla, Aston Martin, and more.
- Reservations Open: Limited edition vehicles available for reservation at longbowmotors.com.
Expert Advisors to Drive Success
Longbow’s new advisory board comprises Mike Flewitt, Michael van der Sande, and Dan Balmer, whose collective expertise spans leadership roles at iconic brands like McLaren, Lotus, Aston Martin, Tesla, and Lucid. Their involvement signals Longbow’s commitment to leveraging top-tier industry knowledge as it scales toward production. Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren Automotive, brings critical manufacturing and scaling expertise. Van der Sande, with experience leading Tesla’s European launch and Alpine’s global relaunch, will guide brand growth and market strategy. Balmer’s background in engineering, marketing, and commercial strategy at Lotus and Aston Martin will refine Longbow’s brand identity and go-to-market plans.
A Vision for Lightweight Performance
Longbow’s mission is to revive the British tradition of lightweight sportscars with a modern electric twist. The Speedster and Roadster, both under 1000kg, are designed to deliver an exhilarating, driver-focused experience. Emphasizing simplicity, beauty, and performance, Longbow’s vehicles feature a pioneering powertrain optimized for weight, dynamics, longevity, and range. Each car will be hand-built in the UK, using a high-performance supply chain to ensure reliability and quality.
Leadership Insights
Mike Flewitt highlighted Longbow’s potential to restore British automotive pride, stating, “Longbow represents a return to form, a novel idea with rigorous execution.” Michael van der Sande emphasized the appeal of a lightweight, agile electric sportscar, describing it as “a compelling concept in theory, promising to be totally captivating in reality.” Dan Balmer praised Longbow’s “Speed of Lightness” philosophy, which extends beyond the vehicles to an agile team and optimized development process.
Strategic Growth and Market Readiness
Founded in 2023 by Daniel Davey, Jenny Keisu, and Mark Tapscott, Longbow combines innovative vision with humility. Tapscott, Longbow’s COO, noted, “We live by simple principles, and central to these is: we can never have too much good advice.” This approach underscores Longbow’s openness to expert input, ensuring a robust strategy for engineering, design, and customer engagement. Reservations for the limited-edition Speedster and Roadster are now open at longbowmotors.com, with deliveries slated for 2026.
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