Honda to Shut Down U.K. Plant for Two Months, Reduce Production in Japan

Sliding sales have prompted Honda to idle its British plant in Swindon for two months in February and March as part of a global production cutback that it has announced 'in response to a dramatic change in the global automobile market'. The Swindon shutdown will mean that Honda will produce 21,000 fewer vehicles at the Wiltshire plant that builds CR-V models alongside European Civics. The plant's 4,800 employees will be laid off for the two month duration of the closure, although the company said that they will continue to receive basic pay. Honda also announced on Friday that it will reduce output at one of its Japanese factories by a further 40,000 vehicles.