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Honda cutting production in Swindon again – 500 jobs at risk

Honda is cutting another 500 jobs in Swindon It’s only a year since Honda announced 800 job cuts at Swindon (which eventually was 550) and now they’re about to cut a further 500 as weak demand – particularly in Europe – sees the Swindon plant producing just half the cars it could. The plan is to cut shifts from 3 to 2 a day, which will result in the loss of 340 permanent jobs and 160 temporary ones, and production will be centred on just one production line to increase efficiency and flexibility. The Swindon Plant – which builds the Civic, Civic Tourer, CR-V and Jazz (and the Civic Type-R from next year) – has been hard hit by the slump in European sales in the last five years and, despite still strong UK sales, production levels of 120,000 cars a year – just half of the Swindon capacity – are not enough to sustain the current staffing levels.

New (2014) Mercedes S-Class highlights on video

The new Mercedes S Class (pictured) boasts a wealth of technology The new Mercedes S Class was launched last month as a styling evolution of the current S Class, but with a wealth of new safety and technology systems lurking under its, still familiar, skin. The S Class may be portrayed as a bit of a ‘Merchant Bankers’ car, but anyone who’s lived with one for any period of time will know there’s really nothing quite like it (well, if you ignore the mistake that was the W220 S Class), and now Mercedes has got its quality Mojo back, the W221 is once again a very special S Class, and the new W222 promises to be even more special. We know that the 2014 S Class will get a range of engines from frugal 4-cylinder to potent V12 – with engines to suit all in between – but whatever engine you choose there will be a raft of technology at your fingertips (some at extra cost depending on the model you buy), so Mercedes has been busy producing a ‘Story’ video highlighting much of the new S-Class’s tech.

Mercedes-Benz GLA stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

The Mercedes-Benz GLA compact crossover is making its European debut at the firm’s home motor show, Frankfurt 2013, and it’s aiming to take on the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 in the up-market small SUV sector. Being based on the firm’s A-Class hatchback is a good way to start, too, with decent, efficient engines, plenty of premium quality and some striking styling to boot.