British electric sportscar manufacturer Longbow has named three former automotive industry CEOs to its advisory board as it advances plans to produce its Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs), the Speedster and Roadster, in 2026. The appointments signal Longbow’s commitment to leveraging top-tier expertise from the global automotive sector to support its development of lightweight, driver-focused vehicles.
The new advisory board includes Mike Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren Automotive; Michael van der Sande, who previously led Tesla’s European launch and Alpine’s global relaunch; and Dan Balmer, with leadership experience in engineering, marketing, and commercial strategy at Lotus and Aston Martin. Collectively, the trio brings experience spanning iconic automotive brands and electric vehicle development.
“Longbow represents a return to form, a novel idea with rigorous execution,” Flewitt said, reflecting on the company’s potential to revive British automotive pride. Van der Sande described the vehicles as “a compelling concept in theory, promising to be totally captivating in reality,” while Balmer highlighted the company’s “Speed of Lightness” philosophy, extending beyond the cars themselves to the agility of the team and development processes.
Longbow’s Speedster and Roadster are designed to be lightweight, with each vehicle expected to weigh under 1,000 kilograms. The cars are engineered to deliver a dynamic, driver-focused experience, combining simplicity, aesthetic appeal, and performance. The vehicles will be hand-built in the UK, drawing on a high-performance supply chain to ensure quality and reliability. The FEVs feature a pioneering electric powertrain optimized for weight, driving dynamics, longevity, and range.
Founded in 2023 by Daniel Davey, Jenny Keisu, and Mark Tapscott, Longbow has emphasized a collaborative and advisory-driven approach. Tapscott, the company’s chief operating officer, said, “We live by simple principles, and central to these is: we can never have too much good advice.” The strategy reflects Longbow’s aim to integrate expert guidance into all facets of engineering, design, and market readiness.
The advisory board appointments mark a critical step in Longbow’s path toward production, as the company positions itself to compete in the growing high-performance electric sportscar segment. By combining lightweight engineering with electric vehicle technology, Longbow seeks to revive the British tradition of nimble, driver-centric sportscars while aligning with global trends in sustainable mobility.
