[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/honda-announces-closure-of-swindon-plant-and-introduction-of-urban-ev\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/honda-announces-closure-of-swindon-plant-and-introduction-of-urban-ev\/","headline":"Honda Announces Closure of Swindon Plant and Introduction of Urban EV","name":"Honda Announces Closure of Swindon Plant and Introduction of Urban EV","description":"As the news emerged that Honda was to close its UK Swindon plant in 2021 with the loss of 3,500 jobs, the car manufacturer also revealed a tantalising glimpse of their new Urban EV. The reveal was almost like a validation of the winds of change that Honda has stressed has nothing to do with Brexit, but is purely a response to the wider global shift in car buying and the almost inevitable future of new automobiles being powered by […]","datePublished":"2019-02-20","dateModified":"2019-02-20","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Honda-Sports-EV-Concept-Tokyo-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Honda-Sports-EV-Concept-Tokyo-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/honda-announces-closure-of-swindon-plant-and-introduction-of-urban-ev\/","about":["Cars","Honda","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":565,"keywords":["Honda","Honda Swindon Plant","Honda Urban EV concept"],"articleBody":"As the news emerged that Honda was to close its UK Swindon plant in 2021 with the loss of 3,500 jobs, the car manufacturer also revealed a tantalising glimpse of their new Urban EV.The reveal was almost like a validation of the winds of change that Honda has stressed has nothing to do with Brexit, but is purely a response to the wider global shift in car buying and the almost inevitable future of new automobiles being powered by battery.The news of the plant closure hasunderstandably overshadowed the Urban EV somewhat – a car that Honda has saidis now only a matter of weeks away from its first reveal. We first saw the Honda Urban EV Concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show where it met with a pretty favourable response. Intriguingly, the company has also revealed a more streamlined electric compact sports car built onto the same platform as the Urban EV. Time will tell if the handsome retro-inspired 2-seater Sports EV is to follow the Urban into full production. It\u2019s clear though that Honda is heading towards a universal EV platform to potentially produce their future fleet of electric vehicles.The Urban EV has a dual screen almost the length of the dash, which is controlled by your thumbs operating buttons ergonomically placed on the centre of the steering wheel. Both of these EV concepts feature cameras in place of the side mirrors; a wider concept idea that was initially met with some type approval concerns, but as the car industry moves at a rapid pace, so the safety bodies have had to respond and we are sure to now see more and more cars with \u2018camera mirrors\u2019 in the future \u2013 though depending where you park, getting your mirror battered by a passing lorry might now prove more costly that it already disproportionally was.The Honda Urban EV will be the company\u2019sfirst mass-produced electric vehicle for the European market and with lessmoving parts than a standard vehicle, Honda believe that the electric car willrequire less maintenance to keep on the road, giving improved energy efficiencyas an added bonus.From what we can see from the images, the Urban EV is thankfully not going to be too far removed from the original concept vehicle \u2013 something that is so often not the case when a concept arrives at final production. Honda in the UKHonda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) first sprang to prominence with the production of the hugely popular Honda motorcycles in the 1960s. The Swindon plant rose in 1985 with production commencing in 1989 at the engine plant. Since then, the Civic, CR-V, Jazz and Accord have all rolled off the production lines at Swindon, while exports to Japan commenced in 2000.In 2012 Honda had announced that it would be investing a further \u00a3267 million in the Swindon plant, partly in preparation for a new 1.6 diesel engine build. While we can only speculate on the internal company workings that have inspired such a dramatic change of direction, it must be factored in that (all) new car sales are down on previous years. While this is arguably a bold andpro-active response as Honda addresses the decline in car sales, it can only presentlybe seen as sad that such a fruitful and long-standing relationship with Swindonwill come to an end.Images: honda.co.uk, topgear.com, evo.co.uk"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Honda Announces Closure of Swindon Plant and Introduction of Urban EV","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/honda-announces-closure-of-swindon-plant-and-introduction-of-urban-ev\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]