In the UK, the factory of Honda, a major automobile manufacturer, has completed 35 years of operation.


On the other hand, companies are investing in EVs = electric vehicles one after another, and it is also perceived as a turning point in the British automobile industry.

On the 30th, Honda completed operations at its plant in Swindon, southern England, due to a review of its global production system.



On the last day, there were few cars and people coming and going, and the factory, which had been in production for 35 years, closed quietly.



This factory has a scale that can produce 150,000 automobiles a year, and after the closure was decided, parts makers withdrew one after another, which was a big blow to the local economy.



Honda-related companies accounted for three-quarters of the sales of local bases in Japanese logistics companies, and were forced to reduce the number of employees by 20%, but due to the accuracy of delivery time and quality control. It means that we are continuing our business by marketing what we have received high praise and gaining new customers in fields such as heating equipment.



"We're moving away from the automotive industry, but we still need to work to increase our customers to survive in the region," said senior manager Nigel Mackenzie.



Meanwhile, in the UK, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced this month that it will set up a battery plant and Stellantis, which is a merger of Peugeot Citroen and Fiat Chrysler, will set up an EV plant to expand EV production.



The new move is also perceived as a turning point in the automobile industry, and Mike Hoes, chairman of the British Automobile Manufacturers Association, said, "Honda's withdrawal is very disappointing, but it is an industrial change from gasoline cars to EVs. We will continue to work with Japanese manufacturers to create products that are environmentally friendly. "

Message to employees "Thank you for working devotedly"

Honda revealed a message to employees who have worked at a factory in the United Kingdom on the 30th.



In this, Honda said, "Today, we have finished 35 years of production activities in Swindon. The two years since we announced the withdrawal of the factory was a very difficult time for our employees, but we are devoted. Thank you for working with us. "



We also released a video of the cars produced at this factory and the employees involved signing the cars.



The site of Honda's factory will be handed over to a major developer next spring.

Some local companies are hiring former Honda employees

Some local businesses are accepting people who worked for Honda and trying to use that technology for growth.



Of these, the company that recycles plastics employs seven former Honda employees and entrusts them with the manufacture of recycled equipment.



Former employees are also involved in research and development and design by making use of the skills they have cultivated in machine maintenance.



The company says, "It brought immediate profits."



A 47-year-old man who worked at a Honda factory for 15 years as an engineer said, "Because I learned the technology related to robots and electronic devices, it was applicable to other industries as well."