Production starts for the new Honda Civic 2012

Honda today starts production of the new Civic as normal production resumes at its Swindon car plant, with the creation of 500 new jobs.

During his speech to Honda Associates, Honda Motor Europe President Mr Nishimae acknowledged the workforces' resilience:

The last three years have been extremely difficult for all of Honda's European operations. We have faced many challenges beginning with the economic downturn through to the two natural disasters in Japan and Thailand.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

This is great news and a tremendous boost to the workforce, the car industry and UK manufacturing. Honda is contributing to a real renaissance in the UK automotive industry.

Adding to the new Civic and the already successful Jazz, next year will see the mass production launch of the new CR-V along with the production introduction of a small diesel engine also to be produced at Swindon. Production volume of cars for 2012 is forecast to double to 180,000 units.