Honda to Close UK’s CTR Factory

Mature Banana said:

Does this mean a potential for insane resale value....??

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Insane resale value? No

I would seriously doubt that Civic hatchback production will shift to Japan. With car sales trending downwards, the logical decision would be to divert hatchbacks to North America at factories already producing sedans and coupes; Alliston, Ontario already ships CRV's to Europe.

It sounds like if they are planning to close in 2022 that they are going to let the current generation cars built there run their course. I doubt they will go through the effort of transferring tooling from the current Civic platform to manufacture the current models elsewhere.

I imagine they will just build up the tooling for the next generation models at plants in Japan and shudder Swindon with all of the current models are out of production.

looks like production is ending when FK8 is going to be replaced. It will be a brand new Civic chassis by 2022.

the British and Europeans like smaller cars, hatches, cities over there aren’t good for the boats we drive around here in USA, and they don’t need gas guzzling 4WD or AWD, over there is where the hot hatch came from. As long as there is a demand over there for these hatches, they will be made. The USA is only a part of their business decision process.

Similar situation with the Fit, Honda will retool the Fit/Jazz in 2020. They pulled production out of Mexico, allegedly because of quality issues (including cars full of sand from sitting in lots awaiting shipment) parts that "diverted " to wherever and other issues and moved, at least production of cars for the US market, to Japan. My dealer has had virtually no fits (other than a few LX's) since late fall, new ones from Japan are just now starting to arrive, but dealer isn't taking deposits unless they get a VIN allocated to them. My wife has been waiting to look a Fit EX-L since December, she's seen the pictures of the 2020 and prefers the current one.

yea, this is a real hit for the Swindon folks. Similar thing happened to us here in Central Ohio about 5 years ago. Honda had been building motorcycle engines (and then the entire motorcycle) here for around 50 years. Then decided to close the plant here and another one (I think in Thailand), to consolidate manufacturing in Japan. Didn't really hit us too bad since there is so much Honda built here, but I would think the local Swindon economy/jobs will really get hurt.

I did order and receive one of the rear deck Union Jack badges, and will attach it proudly once the weather warms up around here...

Even if the next gen Type-R would be made in Japan, I doubt it would still be a Gas-powered Turbo only with Manual Transmission.

May become some Hybrid drivetrain 4000lb GT car (given Honda's infamous record of ruining every promising car with their Hybrid System)

360glitch said:

Playing devil's advocate here, if they move production to Japan and all of the little problems we are seeing with the CTR now go away, the UK CTRs may end up being the black sheep of the bunch. The opposite could happen as well. In my non expert opinion I'd say this may not end up being a big deal by the time everything is transitioned.

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Huh. That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought about it like that. You think there’s enough room for, say, build quality improvement for that to happen?

aldo said:

Insane resale value? No

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Agreed. Not the best thought I’ve ever had!

Honestly look at any honda lot or on the streets. Not sure about else where but in USA at least in my area there really aren't many hatch backs. Couple on road and at most 2 most times 1 on dealer lots. Most people here buy the 2 and 4 doors. Maybe in other areas of world better sales but here in us cars in general are in a decline. Buy 2022 they may not even bother with us market.

Timing coincides with the end of the current generation Civic. While it's unfortunate for the people affected who will lose their jobs it's probably a good thing for buyers. That facility builds mediocre cars and is not worthy of Honda's reputation of quality. The next generation of Civic hatch should be better assembled outside of the UK. Honda will still make the Civic hatchback to maintain a presence in europe so it's just a matter of where the next generation will be build.

Mature Banana said:

Agreed. Not the best thought I’ve ever had!

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I mean, Type R already has great resale. I think that yes, there is a chance it can get better. If there is no next gen Type R or if it's not brought to the US for whatever reason, our Type R values will go through the MFing roof.

Driveitlikeuboughtit said:

I mean, Type R already has great resale. I think that yes, there is a chance it can get better. If there is no next gen Type R or if it's not brought to the US for whatever reason, our Type R values will go through the MFing roof.

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I got mine July 17, so coming up on 2 years soon. Paid 32k was curious about trading dealer offered 34k trade. Going up 2k over what I paid is already about unheard of on new cars most drop 5k the min you sign the deal. Now granted I think me buying mine in 17 before the what 2 or 3 price increases helped.

Speed9117 said:

It sounds like if they are planning to close in 2022 that they are going to let the current generation cars built there run their course. I doubt they will go through the effort of transferring tooling from the current Civic platform to manufacture the current models elsewhere.

I imagine they will just build up the tooling for the next generation models at plants in Japan and shudder Swindon with all of the current models are out of production.

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This is exactly right. The first clue were financials that showed no investment in retooling.

They will indeed let the current model run its course and slowly shift production to current plants.

However tooling for the Type-R and it’s suppliers (seats, belts, trim, bracing, etc) are very unique to the location (UK).

Honda has some very serious bean counters. This is the same company that was about to introduce the NSX with a SOHC motor WITHOUT VTEC.

Chances of another Type-R I believe might be slim. There is a higher chance we’d see a Type-S or a non US market S660 Type-R.

There is talk of a new SiR and new Prelude run. It might also continue the tech (not power) seen in the Type-R.

A supposedly new Type-R has been approved but I’m not so sure it’s the civic.