Longbow, a new electric vehicle startup based in the United Kingdom, is gearing up to enter the competitive market of electric sports cars. Founded by Jenny Keisu, Daniel Davey, and Mark Tapscott – two of whom are former Tesla employees – Longbow aims to offer sports cars designed with eco-conscious consumers in mind.
Daniel Davey has a notable history with Tesla, having worked on commercialising the original Roadster and contributing to the scaling of the Model 3. Mark Tapscott spent seven years at Tesla, where he was involved in launching various products and famously recalled, “I got shouted at by Elon (a lot).” Their experience at Tesla has equipped them with insights into the electric vehicle market, which they seek to apply in launching their own brand.
Longbow has announced two models that are set to debut next year: the Speedster and the Roadster. Currently, reservations are exclusively available to customers in the U.K. The Speedster is expected to be the first model released, priced at over $110,000. With only 150 units to be produced, it promises to be a limited and exclusive offering. In comparison, the Roadster is aimed at a slightly broader audience, priced at around $84,000, although the company has not yet disclosed the total number of units that will be manufactured for this model.
The Longbow Roadster
Both models are powered by 240-kilowatt motors, which contribute to their expected performance in the premium electric sports car market. The emergence of Longbow arrives amidst a growing trend; in the United States alone, electric vehicle sales exceeded one million in 2024, driven by factors such as lower maintenance costs and reduced environmental impact.
Longbow is also laying plans for future expansion beyond the U.K. market. Mark Tapscott spoke to Forbes, stating, “Whilst launching in our home country and Europe, we will be making every effort to make cars available as widely and as quickly as possible.”
The launch of Longbow’s vehicles coincides with the anticipated release of Tesla’s second-generation Roadster, which has faced delays of over five years and is rumoured to debut in the near future. This intersection of timelines has sparked renewed interest in the electric vehicle sector, as competition continues to grow.
