Honda of the UK Manufacturing
Encyclopedia
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (informally HUM) is a subsidiary of the multinational automotive company Honda
based in the United Kingdom
. HUM operates a number of manufacturing plants at a site in Swindon
, which include casting, engine assembly, pressing, welding, painting and car assembly activities. HUM employs around 3,400 people at the plants, which occupy a site covering around 370 acres. Honda has made a total investment of £1.38 billion in the Swindon plants. In 2008 the Swindon site produced 230,423 cars.
, which started in 1979. HUM was established in 1985 and production at the engine plant began in 1989. In 1992 production of the Honda Accord
began in Swindon, and a second engine line was installed. In 1994 production of the Honda Civic
began in Swindon. In August 2000 it was revealed that UK-manufactured Honda cars would be exported to Japan for the first time. HUM opened a second car assembly plant in Swindon in September 2001, creating an additional 200 jobs at the site. In December 2001 workers at the Swindon plants voted to form a union and be represented by the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
. In 2002 production of the Honda Accord ended at Swindon, and in October of that year Ken Keir, the then managing director of HUM, stated that Honda would maintain vehicle production in the UK irrespective of whether or not it joined the Eurozone
. In September 2006 it was announced that Honda would be recruiting an additional 700 workers for the Swindon plants, and raising production of vehicles at the site by 32% to 250,000. In February 2008 it was announced that Honda would be making an £80m investment in new production facilities at the Swindon site for the manufacture of plastic car parts and metal castings for engines. On 30 January 2009 it was announced that workers at the Swindon site would be laid off for four months until June 1, with full-pay for the first two months of the period and about half-pay for the remainder. In October 2009 HUM began production of the Honda Jazz
.
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. HUM operates a number of manufacturing plants at a site in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, which include casting, engine assembly, pressing, welding, painting and car assembly activities. HUM employs around 3,400 people at the plants, which occupy a site covering around 370 acres. Honda has made a total investment of £1.38 billion in the Swindon plants. In 2008 the Swindon site produced 230,423 cars.
History
Honda's decision to invest in production facilities in Swindon came as a result of Honda's collaboration with Rover GroupRover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
, which started in 1979. HUM was established in 1985 and production at the engine plant began in 1989. In 1992 production of the Honda Accord
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
began in Swindon, and a second engine line was installed. In 1994 production of the Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
began in Swindon. In August 2000 it was revealed that UK-manufactured Honda cars would be exported to Japan for the first time. HUM opened a second car assembly plant in Swindon in September 2001, creating an additional 200 jobs at the site. In December 2001 workers at the Swindon plants voted to form a union and be represented by the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
The Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union was a British trade union. It merged with the MSF to form Amicus in 2001.The history of the union can be traced back to the formation of the "Old Mechanics" of 1826, which grew into the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in 1851...
. In 2002 production of the Honda Accord ended at Swindon, and in October of that year Ken Keir, the then managing director of HUM, stated that Honda would maintain vehicle production in the UK irrespective of whether or not it joined the Eurozone
Eurozone
The eurozone , officially called the euro area, is an economic and monetary union of seventeen European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender...
. In September 2006 it was announced that Honda would be recruiting an additional 700 workers for the Swindon plants, and raising production of vehicles at the site by 32% to 250,000. In February 2008 it was announced that Honda would be making an £80m investment in new production facilities at the Swindon site for the manufacture of plastic car parts and metal castings for engines. On 30 January 2009 it was announced that workers at the Swindon site would be laid off for four months until June 1, with full-pay for the first two months of the period and about half-pay for the remainder. In October 2009 HUM began production of the Honda Jazz
Honda Fit
The Honda Jazz is a five-door hatchback subcompact manufactured by the Honda Motor Company of Japan, first introduced in June 2001 and is now in its second generation. The Jazz shares Honda's Global Small Car Platform with the City/Fit Aria, Airwave/Partner, Mobilio, Mobilio Spike, Freed and Freed...
.