Honda to supply government's green team (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Honda to supply government's green team

JAPANESE car firm Honda has received its first fleet order for the new Civic.

The car manufacturer, which will make the cars at the South Marston plant has taken the order from the Environment Agency the government's department responsible for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. The organisation is buying an unspecified number of the Honda cars for use by the organisation's officials.

Richard Jones, fleet operations manager for the Environment Agency, also ordered the company's acclaimed 2.2-litre diesel engine for the fleet.

He said: "A few of my colleagues drive Honda Accords with the 2.2-litre diesel engine, and I was very impressed with the economy figures they were achieving in a vehicle that size.

"Plus of course, the Civic is Euro IV environment compliant a very important feature for me and the Environment Agency."

Talking about the new car, Mr Jones added: "Some people say I'm a radical person, and the new Civic is a radical-

looking car, but Honda's name goes before it, so I knew what I was getting in terms of reliability and quality," he says.

Earlier this month, the Adver reported on how production of the new Civic, was ramping up at the South Marston plant. At the time Shigeru Takagi, the president of Honda Motor Europe, said: "For Honda in Swindon, this is the most important launch in its history."