Honda set to close UK car plant with 3,500 jobs at stake in another Brexit blow

REUTERS/Toru Hanai

• Japanese car manufacturer Honda is said to be preparing to shut one of its UK plants with 3,500 jobs on the line.
• Honda is set to announce a closure to its Swindon plant in 2022.

Japanese automaker Honda could be set to cut 3,500 jobs from the UK in plans to close one of its plants.

Honda could close its plant in Swindon by 2022, according to Sky News. The plant is the company's only manufacturing operation in the EU with production of its Honda Civic model topping 100,000 a year.

The company is still expected to keep its European headquarters in Bracknell as well as its Formula One racing team in the UK but the blow is another major problem for the British car making industry.

Sky's report suggests that Brexit is not the only factor in the decision to close the plant.

Fellow automaker Nissan recently announced that it was cancelling plans to build its X-Trail SUVs in Sunderland despite previous assurances from the British Government.

Honda's decision is the latest in a line of Japanese companies moving operations away from the UK since the Brexit vote with Panasonic and, recently, Sony opting to move their operations to Amsterdam.