Honda UK is producing more cars as the lower pound has boosted exports of its new British-built Civic hatchback to the USA and other international markets including Japan, executives said last week.
Honda’s European spokesman Nik Pearson said: ‘The lower pound after the Brexit vote has certainly helped exports… We’re now for the first time exporting to the USA and the weaker pound has helped.
‘We’re also sending the new Civic five-door to Japan which is a great achievement.’
Honda had already re-configured its production profile to be less reliant on exports to the European market and to increase exports to the US and other world markets.
Before the launch of the new 10th generation Civic, some 40 per cent of Swindon-built cars were exported to Europe, 40 per cent exported to the rest of the world (not including the USA) and 20 per cent to the home British market.
Now, with the new car, 50 per cent of production is being exported to the USA, Japan and the rest of the world, with just 35 per cent to Europe and 15 per cent to the UK.