Honda has begun volume production of the latest Civic, a unique five-door hatchback said to be only for Europe.


The Civic is Honda’s mainstay model in Europe, currently accounting for over 30% of sales and the company has set a goal of doubling volume.


The start of mass production of this new generation at Swindon is the first time the plant has put a new model into UK production without the car being produced first in a Japanese parent plant.


The company has also started making diesel engines on the same line it currently uses to produce petrol engines – claiming this as unique in the British car industry.


Honda started building cars in Swindon in 1992.