HONDA remains committed to Swindon and to continuing its investment in the South Marston workforce, MPs have said.

The news comes just days after the Japanese ambassador, Koji Tsuruoka, suggested the car giant would pull out of Britain if its UK operations were no longer deemed profitable.

Laying out the company’s position, Mr Tsuruoka said Honda and other manufactures “expected” free access to the EU market post-Brexit.

But the stark warning was dismissed by Swindon’s MPs, as well as bosses from Honda, who sought to reassure the workforce that the company “remains committed to our operations in the UK and Europe”.

“We are working closely with the government to ensure the best conditions for our business following the UK’s exit from the European Union,” a company spokesman said.

In late 2016, Honda confirmed they would continue to produce vehicles in Britain despite the Brexit vote.

Justin Tomlinson, the MP for North Swindon, trumpeted the firm’s “commitment to Swindon” and stressed the close working relationship between the Japanese car maker and the British government.

He said: “The UK, like Honda, is rightly seeking to trade all over the world, with the Swindon plant now supplying global markets. They remain committed to Swindon with their on-going significant investment in the Swindon plant.

“Honda and other motor manufacturers are pleased to be working very closely to shape the government’s trade negotiations. As a pro-business government, we are committed to securing trade deals that continue to support our industries within the EU market and the growing global economy. This is why we remain the number one destination within the EU for investment and have record employment.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland agreed and looked ahead to what he saw as a bright future of “further expansion”

“The government is working closely with Honda and other car manufacturers to ensure that their Brexit concerns are met, for example the supplying of components,” he told the Adver.

“Honda has invested a huge amount in the Swindon plant and I believe we are in a strong position when it comes to future models and further expansion.”

But doubt over the future of the firm still remains, with some accusing the government of cultivating “confusion” and “uncertainty”.

Matt Tipper, the regional co-ordinating officer for union Unite, said: “Honda is the keystone for manufacturing in Swindon and the entire south west region, any reduction in its output would be devastating for the entire region.

“Aside from the jobs that would be lost by those who are employed directly by Honda there would be thousands more job losses in the supply chain.”

A Honda have previously urged the government to continue dialogue with the EU “to deliver a free and frictionless trading environment” which “is central to our continued success in the European region as a whole”.

Honda is one of the biggest car companies in the UK, producing 134,000 of the 1.7m vehicles built in Britain throughout 2016.