In 2010, Daniel Davey and Mark Tapscott worked for Elon Musk’s then-new electric car company. Now, 15 years later, the two Brits want to beat Tesla to the electric roadster market. And they’re not understated in their intent to bring the “speed of lightness” to bear against their former employer. 

Two veteran Tesla employees want to beat Elon Musk to market with their Longbow roadster EV

Around eight years ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stood alongside a low-slung, second-generation Roadster. In the flesh and on paper, the little Tesla performance car appeared mighty. Musk even sent one, codenamed “Starman,” into space to highlight the sci-fi appeal of the super EV. However, after the better part of a decade, the Tesla fans who scraped together their reservations aren’t driving their long-overdue Roadster 2.0s quite yet. 

But two former Tesla employees have an alternative for irritated Roadster fans who are fresh out of patience. Daniel Davey and Mark Tapscott left the electric automaker to create their startup, Longbow, with the intent of delivering a new sports-oriented EV driving experience. Part of that experience: delivering a Roadster before Tesla starts shipping its second-generation model. 

For starters, Longbow will release an open-top Speedster at around $112,000. However, the British firm told Business Insider that it will start delivering its units from its limited 150-unit run of the Longbow Roadster “before Tesla delivers a Roadster.”

That’s not all. Longbow says its lightness-first approach to speed will channel “Britain’s most legendary sports cars.” Davey was less than subtle about the brand’s intent. “The Tesla Roaster was announced in 2017. On the day, people were paying deposits by credit card there and then for $250,000,” Davey said. “We will deliver a Roaster before Tesla delivers a Roadster. And ours will be lighter and cooler.”  

According to Longbow, 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) goes by in around 3.2 seconds. While quick, it’s hardly up to the task of keeping pace with the Tesla Roadster 2.0. Musk and company say the still-absent Roadster 2.0 will hit 60 mph in a blistering 1.9 seconds. That would make it one of the quickest cars on the planet. That is, if those figures ring true. 

At £64,995 (around $83,082), the Longbow Roadster is much, much more affordable than the proposed Tesla two-seater. Like the Longbow, an up-front deposit is necessary to reserve the Tesla. According to Tesla, a fully refundable $5,000 deposit is due the same day to get your name on the list. However, another $45,000 is due within 10 days of that first $5,000. That’s right. You’ll part with $50,000 for a vehicle that, well, shows no sign of materializing anytime soon. Longbow, on the other hand, says it will start fulfilling deliveries in late 2026.