Pioneering British electric sportscar manufacturer strengthens advisory ranks as it prepares to hand-build lightweight, driver-focused FEVs in the UK
12 August 2025 — Longbow, the innovative British electric sportscar company, is making waves in the automotive world with the announcement of three distinguished industry leaders joining its board of advisors: Mike Flewitt, Michael van der Sande, and Dan Balmer. Each brings a wealth of experience from iconic brands such as Lotus, McLaren, Alpine, Tesla, and Aston Martin, positioning Longbow to fast-track its vision of producing cutting-edge Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs), starting with its eagerly awaited Speedster and Roadster models.
A New Chapter for British Engineering
Mike Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren Automotive and now an advisor to Longbow, reflects on the brand’s mission: “British engineering has long been a point of national pride, but there’s a case to be made that we’ve fallen behind. Longbow represents a return to form, a novel idea with rigorous execution and a team with experience to make it happen. It’s an opportunity to be part of British automotive history, creating iconic sportscars that follow a timeless recipe, albeit with an electric twist.”
This “electric twist” is central to Longbow’s identity — marrying the celebrated heritage of lightweight British sportscars with the future-forward benefits of electrification. The company’s Featherweight Electric Vehicles emphasize driver engagement through minimalism, lightness, and performance.
The Right Expertise at the Right Time
The addition of Michael van der Sande to Longbow’s advisory board brings a proven track record in launching and growing automotive brands globally. Having spearheaded Tesla’s European launch, overseen Alpine’s global renaissance, and driven Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’ growth, van der Sande underscores the brand’s promise: “Fast, agile, not too heavy, not too complicated and, most importantly, something that puts a smile on your face every day. It’s a compelling concept in theory, promising to be totally captivating in reality: an electric sportscar for people who love driving.”
Dan Balmer’s experience, encompassing engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and commercial strategy at brands such as Aston Martin and Lotus, complements this vision. He explains Longbow’s ethos succinctly: “Longbow’s motto ‘Speed of Lightness’ is not just about the sportscars, it’s also about an agile team, optimised product, and accelerated development – lessons the Longbow team learned at some of the world’s most successful EV startups. I am thrilled to be advising Longbow, working with founders Daniel, Mark and Jenny to bring their FEV vision to life.”
Building on a Legacy of Lightweight Excellence
Longbow’s Featherweight Electric Vehicles—starting with the Speedster and Roadster—embrace a philosophy that champions simplicity, beauty, and driving connection. At under 1000 kilograms, these hand-built machines promise an intoxicating blend of dynamics and purity rarely found in the electric vehicle market.
All design, engineering, and manufacturing will take place in the UK, leveraging a proven supply chain for high-performance components. This ensures each Longbow sportscar delivers not just in performance and handling, but also in reliability and driving range.
COO Mark Tapscott highlights the company’s culture of openness and continuous improvement: “At Longbow, we live by a few simple principles, and central to these is: we can never have too much good advice. Whether it’s engineering details, company strategy, customer community building and even design suggestions, we listen. Combining strength in our conviction to move at the Speed of Lightness with the humility to learn from the incredible expert experience around us is how we’ll build the best outcome for the road ahead.”
A Promising Road Ahead
With manufacturing scheduled to begin in 2026, Longbow is poised to reignite the spirit of British lightweight sportscars — now electrified and redefined for a new era. The guidance of Flewitt, van der Sande, and Balmer provides a formidable foundation, blending heritage expertise with modern electric vehicle innovation.
For those who cherish driving as an experience, Longbow’s Speedster and Roadster promise a future where electric sportscars are not only sustainable but thrillingly alive.
For more information, visit longbowmotors.com and watch the video showcasing Longbow’s vision and vehicles.
