THE TRUE impact of the Japan tsunami on production at Honda’s Swindon plant has been revealed, with 17,000 fewer cars produced this year.

In the financial year 2010-11, Honda produced 139,000 cars at its site in South Marston, compared to 122,000 predicted for the year 2011-2012.

The company cut production to just two days a week after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March this year.

The disaster caused a breakdown in parts distribution to the plant from Honda’s Japanese suppliers.

On Thursday, Honda announced staff in Swindon are now back to working their normal hours and full production will now resume.

A Honda spokesman said: “This month saw Honda’s Swindon car plant return to its normal daily production following the period of parts supply interruption and reduced production levels following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March.

“The plant has been producing cars on a reduced volume basis since April 2011.

“Associates and suppliers have all made tremendous efforts during this period to make this recovery possible and, with parts supply from Japan improving significantly, the plant is now able to plan production for the remainder of the year to recover volume and quickly respond to customers’ requirements.

“Due to the flexible working hours arrangements which exist at the Swindon plant, associates’ pay has been maintained and non-production hours have been banked.”

In a further boost to the plant returning to full production, Honda has confirmed that both the new Civic hatchback for Europe and the next generation CR-V will be built at Honda of the UK Manufacturing in Swindon.

The new Civic – designed exclusively for Europe and tested extensively on the region's roads – will be the ninth generation of the popular hatchback.

Production of the small family car will start later this year at the Swindon plant, ahead of the sales launch in early 2012.

The introduction of the new model into production remained on plan during the recent parts supply interruption and the 3,000 Honda associates continue to prepare for the arrival of the new Civic, as well as undergoing additional training to further their development.

“Our associates are all really excited to be producing the next generation of Civic here at Swindon,” said Mark Trowbridge, director of quality and new model at the plant.

“The next six months will be busy as we ramp up to full production following the training and trial builds of the new car.

“The fact that we will be the only Honda plant in the world producing this hatchback version of the new Civic, makes us extremely proud of the highly skilled and dedicated team we have working here in Swindon.”