Honda to North America: Build Your Own Civics
Truth be told, North American Honda plants do build the lion’s share of Civics sold in the region. However, last week’s announcement of the impending closure of the automaker’s sole UK facility means a 100-percent locally sourced crop of compacts in the future.
Honda insists the decision to close its Swindon assembly plant in 2021 stems from a cost-conscious production overhaul. While the plant supplied Europe and North America with Civic hatchbacks, declining sales in Europe and a new trade pact between Japan and the EU means importing cars into the region makes more economic sense.
It also means the United States and Canada need to find a new source of Civic hatches and Type Rs come the end of 2021. Head office has a solution.
Speaking to media in Japan, Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo said, “Given our efforts to optimize production allocation and production capacity on a global scale, we have concluded that we will produce the Civic for North America in North America.” Automotive News reports.
The announcement, which is in line with Honda’s push to eliminate excess capacity, seems to confirm that Civic hatch production will come to either Ontario or Indiana. Hachigo made no mention of production levels or specific bodystyles, however; Swindon’s closure coincides with the end of the current-generation Civic’s production cycle, and who knows what Honda has in store for the next generation.
Last year, North American Honda plants built 281,126 Civics, while the take rate for hatch models was just under a third of total sales, AN data shows. Civic sales slipped 13.7 percent in the U.S. in 2018, with 325,760 units sold. In Canada, where the Civic topped the best-selling car list for the 21st year running, demand was stable. Only 25 fewer Civics found buyers in 2018 compared to the previous year.
Swindon isn’t alone in its future mothballed status. Honda also plants to close two plants in Turkey and Japan .
[Image: Honda]
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Some rare good news for NA autoworkers.
my 98 cx was built in alliston ontario. nice simple car, put together well