Longbow, the UK-based automotive manufacturer preparing to launch two electric sports cars, has appointed three former automotive CEOs to its advisory board. Dan Balmer (former CEO of Lotus), Mike Flewitt (former CEO of McLaren) and Michael van der Sande (former CEO of Alpine, and MD of Jaguar SVO) will help steer Longbow as it progresses towards manufacturing and launching its two Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs) in 2026: the Speedster and Roadster models.
You can hear from the expert advisors in this video.
The three advisors have broad collective experience. In particular, Mike Flewitt can offer his expertise in manufacturing and scaling production, especially from his time at McLaren Automotive.
“British engineering has long been a point of national pride, but there’s a case to be made that we’ve fallen behind,” said Flewitt. “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.”
Launching and growing automotive brands is a strength of Michael van der Sande, having led Tesla’s European launch, Alpine’s global relaunch, and Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’s global growth.
“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,” commented van der Sande. “Development of a market-defining FEV is by no means a simple task, but Longbow has an exceptional team that knows what it takes.”
Dan Balmer’s background in engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and commercial strategy spans brands including Aston Martin and Lotus will help Longbow hone its brand identity and go-to-market activities.
“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,” said Balmer. “I am thrilled to be advising Longbow, working with founders Daniel, Mark and Jenny to bring their FEV vision to life.”
