Japanese carmaker, Honda is set to announce the closure of its only British car plant in 2022 with the loss of 3,500 jobs, a lawmaker said, in the latest blow to the UK car industry as Brexit approaches.
Honda built just over 160,000 vehicles at its Swindon factory in Southern England in 2018, where it makes the Civic and CV-R models. This accounted for a little more than 10 per cent of Britain’s total output of 1.52 million cars.
But it has struggled in Europe in recent years, and the industry faces a number of challenges including declining diesel demand and tougher regulations alongside the uncertainty over Britain’s departure from the EU, due in March.
A Conservative lawmaker for Swindon, who voted for Brexit in 2016, Justin Tomlinson, said that he had met with the business minister and representatives from Honda, who had confirmed the plans.
“They were due to make a statement tomorrow, it’s obviously broken early,” Tomlinson, lawmaker for North Swindon, said.
“This is not Brexit-related. It is a reflection of the global market. They are seeking to consolidate production in Japan.”
Honda said that it would not be providing any comment at this stage.
