Honda to cut output in Britain

TOKYO: Honda Motor Co., Japan's second-biggest automaker, said Tuesday it would slash vehicle production by 10 per cent in Britain due to faltering demand in Europe.

Honda will cut output by 22,000 units of a popular Civic model at its factory in Wiltshire, in southwest England, for four months starting from December.

``The economy is slowing in Europe, and we have to adjust our production in line with sluggish demand there,'' said Honda spokeswoman Akemi Ando. The factory's 4,800 workers will not lose their jobs due to the production cut, she said.

Honda had planned to make 228,000 vehicles per year at the Wiltshire plant.

The vehicles made at the Wiltshire plant are mostly sold in Britain, but some are shipped to Italy, Germany and Spain, Ando said. Apart from Civic, Honda makes the CRV sport-utility-vehicle in Britain.

Facing a prolonged slump in global demand, Japanese automakers are cutting back their output.

Nissan Motor Co. said last week it would slash auto production at its two domestic plants. Nissan was also laying off 1,680 workers in Spain due to weak demand.