Honda Jazz Production Starts in the UK

Honda's factory in Swindon, UK rolled off the assembly lines the first British-built Jazz yesterday and the Japanese manufacturer plans to build 20,000 units of in the fiscal year to end March, 2010. Production of the Jazz for European buyers has been transferred from Japan to the United Kingdom, with the Swindon production facility to build cars for both the domestic and the export markets.

Just-auto.com writes that British-built Jazz models will be 75 percent sold in the UK and 25 percent in other countries in Europe and South Africa.

"We see this third model as a wonderful opportunity in the current climate and we're extremely proud to be building the Jazz here in Swindon," said David Hodgetts, Director at Honda of the UK Manufacturing.

"The car is incredibly popular with customers, and it has won countless awards for quality and reliability. Shifting production to the UK is a real vote of confidence in all our Associates here in Swindon, and recognition of the high standards which we have been able to achieve at the plant."

Since its official debut in Europe, Honda sold more than 500,000 units of the Jazz on the continent. Furthermore, the parent company expects these numbers to grow bigger, mostly thanks to the scrappage schemes started across Europe.

“The Jazz really changed things in the B-segment when it arrived in 2002. People are still amazed by just how much space there is inside both for passengers and luggage. We are thrilled to sell half a million cars and we are looking forward to continuing this success when we begin production of the Jazz at the Honda UK Manufacturing plant in September," Ken Keir, Honda Motor Europe senior vice president said in a release earlier this year.