Honda’s latest Swindon-built model, the 10th generation Civic, has made its motor show debut – the result of its biggest ever research and development programme.
The Japanese car giant has invested £200m in its massive Swindon plant and taken on additional 650 workers to build the car. 
Swindon is now the global centre for Civic production. Exports of the car to North America started earlier this month and it will appear in UK and European showrooms from next February.
It will to be exported to more than 70 countries around the world.
The new jobs at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) – its subsidiary responsible for the Swindon car and engine production plants – take its total workforce up to around 4,000.
The official unveiling of the new Civic took place at the Paris Motor Show and coincided with a plea by Honda to the government to make a rapid decision on Brexit – http://swindon-business.net/index.php/2016/09/30/fast-decision-needed-on-brexit-says-honda-as-it-launches-latest-made-in-swindon-car/
Honda described the next Civic as “sporty” and “fun to drive”.
Honda UK managing director Philip Crossman said: “The unveil of the 10th generation Civic continues the journey we started last year with the complete overhaul of our entire range.
“Couple that with the fact the introduction of the new Civic heralds a new era for the plant in Swindon, as it will become the global manufacturing hub for the British-built Civic hatchback, and we are in a fantastic position going forward.”
The launch is a major boost for the Swindon plant, which was hit hard by the recession and the slowdown in new car sales across Europe.
More than 1,000 jobs were axed at the plant during the depth of the recession – taking total staffing levels to below 3,000 for the first time in a decade – and one of its two production lines was closed.
Hundreds of jobs also went in suppliers to the plant, reflecting Honda’s importance to local economy.
While the two production lines have the capacity to produce 250,000 vehicles a year, over recent years it has averaged less than half that number since 2010.
While Brexit has thrown an obvious question mark over future investment in Swindon, for the time being Honda chiefs are concentrating on the new Civic and its boost to the plant.
Honda Motor Europe president and chief operating officer Katsushi Inoue told its workers when the car was unveiled at the plant: “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. We’re also setting out a clear and sustainable future role for HUM, broadening our export markets beyond Europe.”
