NewsHonda to Close U.K. Factory That Builds Civic Type R

© Motor Trend Staff 2018 Honda Civic Type R front three quarter in motion 7

Honda announced it will close its Swindon, U.K., manufacturing plant in 2021 when production ends on the current-generation Civic. All Civic hatchbacks in the U.S., including the Civic Type R, are made at the Swindon factory.

The decision comes as Honda evolves its EV strategy. "The significant challenges of electrification will see Honda revise its global manufacturing operations, and focus activity in regions where it expects to have high production volumes," Honda said in a statement.

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Honda to close British car plant as Brexit looms

Honda to close British car plant as Brexit looms

The Honda Civic and its Type R performance variant are built at the factory in the south of England. European Civic sales stood at 42,308 last year, a As a result, Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd. has today informed employees of its proposal to close its Swindon vehicle manufacturing plant in the

The Honda Civic Type R (Japanese: ホンダ・シビックタイプ R Honda Shibikku Taipuāru) is the highest performance version of the Honda Civic manufactured by Honda Motor Company of Japan.

Honda chief executive Takahiro Hachigo said the move was not related to Brexit. "We had to consider the rise of electrified vehicles, and the different speeds at which electric vehicles will be taken up in North America and Europe," he told Reuters. "This decision was not informed by Brexit."

As you may recall, Honda has big plans for electrification. Honda created an EV platform first seen on the Urban EV concept from 2017. Globally, two-thirds of the cars Honda sells will have electrified technology by 2030. That target is 2025 for Europe, Honda announced at the time.

The Swindon factory produces 150,000 cars per year and employs around 3,500 people. Honda made the announcement just a few weeks after Nissan reversed a decision to build the new X-Trail at its Sunderland, U.K., plant. Nissan said, "While we have taken this decision for business reasons, the continued uncertainty around the U.K. 's future relationship with the EU is not helping companies like ours to plan for the future." Meanwhile, Panasonic and Sony have decided to move their headquarters from Britain into the EU.

The inside of Honda's Geneva-bound EV is an exercise in simplicity

If only every Honda dashboard looked this clean.

Yes! I watched My Honda Civic Type R being Built & Filmed it! This is the 1st Exclusive access inside the Honda factory located the UK as they build the new

We take a look at what seems to be the highest spec FN2 type R that you could order from the factory . Thanks to Chris for the show around his car.

© Motor Trend Staff

The closing of the Swindon plant is part of a larger restructuring for Honda's manufacturing network. The automaker said it will stop building Civic sedans in Turkey from 2021. The plant in Turkey currently makes 38,000 units per year.

Honda says its European headquarters will remain in the U.K.

Source: Honda, Reuters