PRODUCTION has started at Swindon's Honda plant of the new CR-V sport utility vehicle.

The majority of North American and all European demand for the new CR-V will be met by the South Marston factory's production, with up to 100,000 CR-Vs being produced annually.

It was only 12 weeks ago that the second car plant was opened on the Swindon site and with production rates increasing rapidly, the UK integrated car and engine production facility is well on its way to achieving its full annual rate of production of 250,000 vehicles in just one year.

The Swindon operation uses some of the world's most advanced production systems distilled from manufacturing know-how in Japan, North America and the UK.

Honda spokesman Paul Ormond said: "Known as New Manufacturing System (NMS), the system replaces model specific equipment and production processes with those which are universal.

"The aim of this is to increase both efficiency and flexibility, enabling us to achieve faster response to market needs while at the same time maintaining the highest standards of quality.

"There are two additional benefits, since it also reduces the impact of the production process on the environment and creates a safer, more pleasant and therefore more productive working environment."

n Honda's all new Jazz, sold as the Fit in Japan, has soared to the top of Japan's car sales charts in November. UK customers have their first chance of seeing the vehicle in February.