Honda Investment in U.K. Plant to Double Output

Honda U.K. announces a £267 million ($424.8 million) expansion program as its doubles production this year at its plant in Swindon to 183,000 units and sets a target of 250,000 units a year within three years.

The auto maker says its biggest U.K. investment in more than 10 years is supporting the introduction of the new-generation Civic compact car, launched late last year, the new CR-V compact cross/utility vehicle this month and a new 1.6L diesel engine for the Civic in December.

Some 500 new workers have been hired to build the new products, raising the total workforce to 3,500 at the Swindon plant, located 80 miles (129 km) west of London.

Honda U.K. Managing Director Dave Hodgetts says 60% of the auto maker’s U.K. production is for export, with the plant producing cars and engines for more than 60 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

“This investment program underpins Honda’s commitment to manufacturing in Britain and to our U.K. workforce,” Hodgetts says in a statement. “It also reaffirms the Swindon plant’s position as the cornerstone of Honda’s European operations, as it has been for over 20 years.”

The 370-acre (150-ha) site in Wiltshire is a fully integrated manufacturing facility, producing the CR-V, Civic and Jazz/Fit subcompact car.