This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20983462
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Honda to cut 800 jobs in Swindon | Honda to cut 800 jobs in Swindon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Honda is planning to cut 800 jobs at its Swindon plant, blaming weak demand across Europe. | Honda is planning to cut 800 jobs at its Swindon plant, blaming weak demand across Europe. |
| It is the first time the Japanese carmaker has cut jobs in the UK since it began manufacturing there in 1992. | |
| The Swindon plant, which produces the Civic, Jazz and CR-V models, employs 3,500 people, having added 500 to the workforce a year ago. | The Swindon plant, which produces the Civic, Jazz and CR-V models, employs 3,500 people, having added 500 to the workforce a year ago. |
| Honda has begun a 90-day consultation period on the job cuts and says it hopes to avoid compulsory redundancies. | Honda has begun a 90-day consultation period on the job cuts and says it hopes to avoid compulsory redundancies. |
| "Sustained conditions of low demand in European markets make it necessary to realign Honda's business structure," the company said in a statement. | |
| It added that demand for cars in Europe had fallen by one million in the past year. | |
| But Honda said it was still committed to manufacturing in the UK and Europe in the long term. | |
| The Swindon plants built 166,000 cars in 2012, which was well below the capacity of 250,000. | The Swindon plants built 166,000 cars in 2012, which was well below the capacity of 250,000. |
| It was a big jump from 2011 when 97,000 were produced, but still significantly down from the 230,000 made in 2008. | |
| 'Good prospects' | |
| In a statement, industry group the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said it was very disappointing news. | |
| "Despite challenges brought by weak European demand, the longer-term prospects for the UK automotive sector remain good," SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said. | |
| "We hope that those affected will be able to take advantage of the opportunities we know exist throughout the UK sector and its supply chain." | |
| SMMT figures from earlier in the week showed that UK new car registrations rose by 5.3% in 2012 to 2,044,609 cars, which was the highest number since 2008. | |
| Its figures showed that 54,208 Hondas were registered in the UK last year, up 7.2% from 2011. | |
| About 40% of the cars produced in Swindon are sold in the UK. | |
| Business Secretary Vince Cable visited Honda in September last year to welcome its £267m investment in the UK. | |
| "This Honda story is part of a much bigger picture of optimism, of feeling that Britain is a really good place to manufacture and make cars," he said at the time. | |
| The latest figures on car registrations from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) shows a different picture to the UK data. | |
| In the first 11 months of 2012, 131,346 Hondas were registered in Europe, down 6.2% from the same period last year. |