The first mass-production 10th generation Honda Civics have set sail for the US.

Due to arrive in dealers across North America by September, the US version of the Civic is made at Honda’s UK manufacturing base in Swindon.

The story comes after last year’s announcement that Honda’s UK manufacturing arm (HUM) was to become the global production hub for the tenth-generation Civic hatchback, receiving an investment of over £200 million to prepare for the start of production of the new model. 

The Civic is Honda’s biggest selling nameplate worldwide. The four-door sedan version was launched in the United States in late 2015, and received the coveted North American Car of the Year award. 

Philip Webb, head of cars at Honda UK, commented: “Production of the hatchback for the UK market will commence towards the end of 2016, with sales beginning in the first quarter of 2017. Our factory in Swindon will also export the model to other key markets around Europe and the rest of the world.”

HUM is Honda’s flagship production facility in Europe and a key part of the company’s global manufacturing network. Since 1989, total investment in HUM has exceeded £2.2 billion.