Production of Hondaâs new 10th generation Honda Civic is now under way at the car manufacturing firmâs UK base in Swindon, with the first cars already starting to arrive in North America.
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) has recently become the global production hub for the latest model of the Civic hatchback, which is set to be exported to more than 70 countries throughout the world, including Canada, North America and European markets.
The facility in Swindon is Hondaâs primary production site in Europe and employs 3,600 people, playing a significant role in Hondaâs global manufacturing network.
In preparation for production of the new Civic, the company has invested an additional £200 million into the factory, bringing Hondaâs overall investment in HUM to more than £2.2 billion since 1989.
President and Chief Operating Officer at Honda Motor Europe, Katsushi Inoue, commented: As we reveal this new Civic, we look forward with confidence as we expand the role of our Swindon manufacturing plant.
Honda has made significant investments in this facility and this next step is an important endorsement of the skills and expertise of our workforce. Weâre also setting out a clear and sustainable future role for HUM, broadening our export markets beyond Europe.
Meanwhile, Nick Hurd, Industry and Climate Change Minister, commented on the news by saying that the Honda plant in Swindon has gone from strength to strength since production started in the 1980s, and this news is a real boost for the local economy.
He added: The new model is testament to British engineering and manufacturing expertise and is another success story for our world-class automotive sector.
Honda claims the all-new Civic represents a significant step forward for the brand, with the new car benefitting from the largest single model development programme in the companyâs history.
