Japanese carmaker Honda has marked the launch of its new CR-V with the announcement of a £267m investment plan for its Swindon plant, the biggest investment in Honda's UK manufacturing base for more than a decade.
The money will support the introduction of its new Civic and CR-V car models and a new 1.6-litre diesel engine.
The site is expected to produce 183,000 cars this year, with output forecast to rise to 250,000 within three years.
About 500 workers have been recruited this year in the firm's biggest single UK investment programme for a decade, raising the total workforce to 3,500.
Honda said Swindon remained the "cornerstone" of its European business.
Dave Hodgetts, managing director of Honda UK said: "This investment programme underpins Honda’s commitment to manufacturing in Britain and to our UK workforce. It also reaffirms the Swindon plant’s position as the cornerstone of Honda’s European operations, as it has been for over 20 years."
Despite the expansion, many car makers in Europe are struggling with overcapacity and falling sales.
Honda's Swindon factory builds cars and engines for export to more than 60 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.
Honda has now invested more than £1.5bn in the 370-acre Swindon site.
