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I thought Honda moved production back to Japan as the result of the trade deal Signed last year with the EU which meant zero tariffs on cars imported from Japan to the EU. This meant it was cheaper to manufacture in Japan and ship around the world than to have a plant in Europe.
Alan_tbt-
I thought Honda moved production back to Japan as the result of the trade deal Signed last year with the EU which meant zero tariffs on cars imported from Japan to the EU. This meant it was cheaper to manufacture in Japan and ship around the world than to have a plant in Europe.
No, they intended on turning Swindon into their centre for manufacturing elements of/complete electronic vehicles, and had the fit-out for the upgrade of the factory on a boat steaming for the UK from Japan. They turned the boat around at sea when it became clear that the UK was pursuing the maximal friction model, as it would make vehicles produced in the UK uncompetitive to impossible (given their reliance on JIT).
That the tariffs on cars are going to step down for Japan>EU over the next few years no doubt made their decision easier, but it was the decisions we made around Brexit that shut Swindon.
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@Dammit probably knows more given his answer. However, from memory (I cba to look it up) most of the UK car manufacturers have now left / are going (honda, nissan, ford, vauxhall, jlr, mini/BMW).
It's frankly unbelievable that their collective, dramatic, decision wasn't driven almost entirely by Brexit versus 'BUT THE DIESEL SCANDAL!!' excuses that Brexit apologists trotted out.
Dammit
christianSpaceman
The Honda Jazz - one of the models moved out of Swindon thanks to Brexit