National News Honda set to close Swindon manufacturing plant

[Deleted member 142]

Various news outlets are reporting that Honda will announce tomorrow that it will close the Swindon plant in 2022.

3500 jobs at risk - that's such a blow for the direct workforce and those working in the extended supply chain.

 

[Whingit]

It's what the area voted for.

 

[Wallop]

Usually I'd have some sympathy for this type of story but it's Swindon so f*ck 'em.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Honda have said it's not down to Brexit, for what it's worth.

 

[Oldham]

It's what the area voted for.

What? For thousands of people to lose their source of income?

 

[Whingit]

There's never one reason for anything happening.

 

[Concretebob]

Honda have said it's not down to Brexit, for what it's worth.

Honda have announced they are closing a factory in Turkey too. They are consolidating all their production in Japan.

Football rivalry aside it’s pretty awful for everyone involved. 3,500 is a lot of unemployed people

 

[Whingit]

What? For thousands of people to lose their source of income?

Yeah, a shame really.

 

[Whingit]

It'll be more than 3500 jobs, many more in the supply chain will go.

 

[Wallop]

It'll be more than 3500 jobs, many more in the supply chain will go.

Indeed, the government should look to help any supply chain firms based outside Swindon.

 

[Sarge]

A number of Oxford people (from pressed steel ...I think) moved workplace from cowley Oxford to honda in Swndn some years ago. The honda factory announcing its moving out of Swndn in 2021 is catastrophic for emploment opportunities in both Oxford, Swndn and beyond, with smaller localish supplies also going to be affected too?


Perhaps the soon to be announcement of the construction of a new home for OUFC along with surrounding infastructure will provide some employment opportunities? Sadly as things stand that particular option coming to fruition doesnt appear very likely as things stand currently

 

[Northstandboy]

Usually I'd have some sympathy for this type of story but it's Swindon so f*ck 'em.

This is devastating news. Will affect the entire UK. Not just Swindon.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Honda have announced they are closing a factory in Turkey too. They are consolidating all their production in Japan.

Another non-EU country, then.

 

[Northstandboy]

I wish, as a consequence the government can strip the company of the land!

 

[Oldham]

So does anyone think BMW in Cowley will go the same way?

 

[YellowTaxi]

Yes.

 

[bazzer9461]

Usually I'd have some sympathy for this type of story but it's Swindon so f*ck 'em.

Anyone who loses their job because of companies closing down or moving their operation putting people out of work whether it be 35 or 350 or 3,500 is nothing to be chuffed with it don’t really matter whether they’re from Swindon , Oxford, Reading, or
Where ever they have families, bills, mortgages it could be you tomorrow.

 

[LowerSouth]

I wish, as a consequence the government can strip the company of the land!

Thankfully, we are not a communist state !

 

[Northstandboy]

From The Times: "Ian Howells, senior vice-president for Honda in Europe, said that as well as the 3,500 jobs affected in Swindon, a further 3,500 people “working in affiliates primarily supplying Honda” in the UK could be hit. "

 

[Johnf]

So does anyone think BMW in Cowley will go the same way?

Let’s hope not that would be catastrophic.
Cowley will be producing the electric mini I think so that should put the plant in a good position.
I hope the politicians agree on a withdrawal deal and negotiate a favourable trade deal going forward.

 

[Followtheox1]

Usually I'd have some sympathy for this type of story but it's Swindon so f*ck 'em.

What an utterly ridiculous and stupid reply. Think about all the families impacted by this and the wider implications. I'm embarrassed as an Oxford fan to read your words.

 

[Wallop]

What an utterly ridiculous and stupid reply. Think about all the families impacted by this and the wider implications. I'm embarrassed as an Oxford fan to read your words.

Blimey - lighten up, it was firmly tongue in cheek. Geez, please don't be embarrassed on my behalf.

 

[Wallop]

Whingit said:


It's what the area voted for.

What? For thousands of people to lose their source of income?

Directly, no of course they didn't. BUT people voted for a change to the status quo. This occurred on a national basis, in Swindon and in many other areas including (unbelievably imho) South Wales who receive enormous net subsidies from the EU. People had a wide spectrum of reasons for doing so but when you vote for change, it is in the hope of there being a benefit but usually there is the equivalent risk element.

The Governor of the Bank of England and many influential business leaders warned in the run-up to the vote that a 'Leave' vote could have a serious impact on the economy. It was up to each voter to weigh these opinions up with those of others put forward and consider how important this was to them in conjunction with the other key features of the vote e.g. immigration impact.

You can argue that the Government have negotiated badly but that was always a risk. Personally I never thought the EU would give much ground - why would they as this would give France, Germany and the like the excuse to demand more from the EU for their continued membership or threaten to leave with the 'nice UK package'. There may well be a longer term benefit to Brexit when we look back in 10 years' time but right now, the economy looks like it will suffer and people can not say they weren't warned and any competent individual when voting should be able to understand that changing the status quo has a risk/reward balance and you can't guarantee that the reward part will be the greater.

 

[Oxymoron]

Honda's decision is based on their forecast of the economic consequences of the move to low emission cars and the ultimate demise of the internal combustion engine upon their company, just like Nissan.

In other words, they would have closed Swindon at some point even if the Brexit fiasco had never happened - at least Honda told it like it is and didn't hide behind "the uncertainty of leaving the EU".

BMW have played it right. If we stay in, they have a car plant to build the electric Mini for the EU. If we leave, they have a car plant to build the electric Mini for the UK. Damn clever, these Germans......

 

[LowerSouth]

They may even build BMW’s at Cowley in the future

 

[Oxymoron]

If we leave "no deal" you can probably put your house on it.

 

[makv]

What an utterly ridiculous and stupid reply. Think about all the families impacted by this and the wider implications. I'm embarrassed as an Oxford fan to read your words.

I’m even more embarrassed. Sw*ndon are my “second team”.