Tesla fans have been waiting for the next-generation Roadster since its 2017 unveiling. Now, two former Tesla employees are stepping up to fill that gap—with plans to launch their own electric sports car before Elon Musk’s even hits the road.
A Fresh Take on Electric Sports Cars
Daniel Davey and Mark Tapscott, both with deep roots in Tesla’s early European operations, have teamed up with Swedish entrepreneur Jenny Keisu to launch Longbow, a UK-based EV startup. Their goal? Deliver a lightweight, no-nonsense electric sports car before Tesla’s long-delayed Roadster rolls out.
They’re kicking things off with the Speedster, which will see a limited release in 2026 priced at around $112,000. A more affordable model—just called the Roadster—is expected to follow at roughly $85,000. While Tesla is still teasing a release, Longbow is actually building one (Source: Business Insider).
Leveraging Experience and Agility
Davey and Tapscott aren’t new to the electric game. Between Tesla, Lucid, and BYD, they’ve seen the highs, the burnouts, and the money pits. That’s why Longbow isn’t trying to reinvent everything—they’re skipping the heavy overhead of in-house production and sourcing most components externally.
This lean strategy helps them avoid the massive costs and delays that bog down so many EV startups. It’s more plug-and-play, less start-from-scratch. That means faster timelines, tighter execution, and fewer surprises (Source: Electrek).
Targeting an Underserved Market
Most EV makers go one of two ways—either mass market or ultra-premium. Longbow’s carving out something in the middle: a proper electric sports car that isn’t priced like a hypercar. It’s a category that’s surprisingly empty right now.
The team sees that gap and wants to fill it. Drivers who want something fun and sharp, without getting into six-figure exotic territory, don’t have many electric options. Longbow’s trying to be that option (Source: Top Gear).
Local Builds, Global Tech
Production will be UK-based, and Longbow wants to use domestic suppliers wherever possible. But they’re also realistic—the best tech isn’t always local. Chinese EV advancements, especially in battery and motor systems, are too good to ignore.
That means mixing local builds with select international components. It’s a smart hedge—cost-effective, scalable, and able to stay current with global innovations (Source: InsideEVs).
The Clock’s Ticking on Tesla
Elon Musk has been teasing the new Tesla Roadster for years. It was first unveiled in 2017, and after delay upon delay, production is now pushed to late 2024. Even loyal fans are starting to roll their eyes.
That’s the window Longbow sees. They know they probably won’t outsell Tesla—but they might outrun them to market. With their smaller scale and clear focus, they’re positioning themselves as the ones who actually deliver a sports EV first (Source: The Verge).
