Ex-Tesla employees aim to launch an electric roadster before Musk can

Yahoo! News - Apr 8th, 2025
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Longbow Motors, a British automotive startup founded in 2023 by Daniel Davey and Mark Tapscott, has announced plans to release a fully electric open sports car before Tesla's anticipated Roadster hits the market. The company, which is taking pre-orders, is set to begin production by 2026. The startup, led by former Tesla and Lucid employees, aims to address the weight issue in electric vehicles with their 'Featherweight Electric Vehicles' (FEV) concept. Their models will feature a lightweight aluminum platform, promising quick acceleration to 100 km/h, though official specifications are yet to be disclosed. Longbow's Speedster, priced at approximately €102,000, will be a limited edition of 150 units, with additional exclusive models available.

Tesla enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the new Roadster since Elon Musk's announcements in 2020 and subsequent years, but production has been delayed due to prioritization of projects with greater global impact. Longbow Motors' attempt to outpace Tesla signifies a growing competition in the electric sports car market. The release represents a strategic move to capture a niche segment of driving enthusiasts who seek affordable, high-performance electric sports cars. With Davey's experience in launching the Tesla Model 3 in Europe and Tapscott's work on the Lotus Elise, Longbow Motors is positioned to make a significant mark on the industry, emphasizing driver-centered design and innovation.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a clear and engaging overview of Longbow Motors and its ambitions to challenge Tesla in the electric sports car market. It scores well in terms of accuracy, clarity, and timeliness, effectively highlighting the founders' credentials and the startup's innovative goals. However, the article could benefit from a more balanced perspective by incorporating insights from industry experts and potential challenges the company may face.

While the story is timely and relevant to ongoing trends in the automotive sector, its public interest and impact are somewhat limited by the niche focus and lack of detailed technical information. The article is highly readable, with a straightforward structure and clear language, though it could enhance engagement by providing more comprehensive insights and diverse perspectives.

Overall, the article is a strong piece for readers interested in electric vehicles and automotive innovation, but it could improve its depth and impact by including more detailed analysis and a broader range of viewpoints.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The news story about Longbow Motors is largely accurate, with several claims aligning well with available information. The founders of the company, Daniel Davey and Mark Tapscott, are correctly identified as former employees of Tesla and Lucid, and their roles are consistent with their professional backgrounds. The production timeline for launching the electric sports cars by 2026 is also a claim that matches industry expectations for new automotive startups.

However, there are some details that require further verification. The story mentions that pre-orders are being taken, but it does not specify the number of reservations or the geographic scope of these orders. Additionally, while the article states that the vehicles will be lightweight and feature an aluminum platform, it lacks specific technical specifications and performance metrics, which are crucial for evaluating the feasibility of the claims.

The statement about Tesla's delayed Roadster and Elon Musk's comments are accurate, as they reflect publicly available information about Tesla's production priorities. Overall, the factual accuracy is high, but the article would benefit from more detailed specifications and confirmation of pre-order details.

7
Balance

The article primarily focuses on Longbow Motors and its efforts to launch an electric sports car before Tesla's Roadster. This focus gives the piece a somewhat unbalanced perspective, as it does not explore potential challenges or industry skepticism regarding Longbow's ambitious plans.

While the article does mention Tesla's delays and Elon Musk's priorities, it lacks input from industry analysts or competitors, which could provide a broader context. Including perspectives from other automotive experts or potential customers could offer a more rounded view of Longbow Motors' market position and the feasibility of its goals.

Overall, the article provides a clear narrative about Longbow's objectives and differentiators, but it could benefit from incorporating a wider range of viewpoints to enhance its balance and depth.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, making it easy for readers to follow the main narrative about Longbow Motors and its objectives. The language is straightforward, and the story flows logically from the company's founding to its ambitious plans to outpace Tesla.

Key points, such as the founders' backgrounds and the company's production timeline, are presented in a concise manner. However, the article could benefit from more detailed explanations of technical terms, such as the 'Featherweight Electric Vehicles' concept, to ensure all readers fully understand the implications.

Overall, the clarity is strong, with a well-organized presentation of information, though it could be enhanced with additional context for more technical aspects.

6
Source quality

The article relies heavily on statements from Longbow Motors' co-founder Daniel Davey, which adds credibility given his background. However, it does not cite any independent sources or industry experts to corroborate the claims made by the company.

While the founders' credentials lend some authority to the article, the lack of diverse sources or external validation limits the depth of the reporting. Including insights from automotive analysts or third-party reviews would strengthen the article's reliability and provide a more comprehensive overview of the startup's potential.

Overall, the source quality is moderate, with room for improvement in terms of incorporating a broader range of authoritative voices.

5
Transparency

The article provides some background on the founders of Longbow Motors, which adds a layer of transparency regarding their expertise and motivations. However, it lacks detailed information about the company's development process, funding sources, or partnerships, which are critical for understanding the feasibility of their plans.

There is also a lack of transparency about the methodology behind the company's claims, such as the 'Featherweight Electric Vehicles' concept. Without specifics on how they plan to achieve the lightweight design, readers are left with unanswered questions about the practicality of these innovations.

Overall, while the article offers some transparency about the founders' backgrounds, it falls short in explaining the underlying processes and potential conflicts of interest, which are crucial for a full understanding of the story.

Sources

  1. https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/longbow-ev-sports-car-uk-startup/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_k6anrpGT8
  3. https://www.designboom.com/technology/longbow-lightweight-roadster-speedster-electric-vehicle-03-14-2025/
  4. https://www.carscoops.com/2025/03/ex-tesla-alums-debut-new-electric-roadster-named-to-taunt-elon-musk/
  5. https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-tesla-employees-want-launch-new-roadster-before-elon-musk-2025-4