A MASSIVE investment of £80m is to be ploughed into Honda's Swindon plant, the firm has announced.

Work will be done on upgrading and improving manufacturing at the South Marston site - which will turn out its two millionth car tomorrow.

Managers say the investment is another boost for the 5,000 strong workforce, called associates.

David Hodgetts, director at Honda UK Manufacturing, said: "We are extremely proud of our workforce here in Swindon.

"The two millionth vehicle is a major milestone which demonstrates the scale of our achievement."

The £80m plus investment will see £20m go on plastic operations, £16m spent on the cast facility and £50m go on welding and painting production technology.

The new casting facility will mean Swindon will be able to cast its own diesel blocks, a process which was before only carried out in Japan.

This vital engine technology can now be carried out on site saving shipments from Japan and will improve the firm's carbon footprint.

"The investment will enable Honda to further develop existing associates as well as providing additional opportunities for careers in engineering," said Mr Hodgetts.

The two millionth vehicle to roll off the production line will be a silver right-hand drive diesel CR-V.

It is expected to be produced at about 8.30pm tomorrow - 16 years since the first car was produced in Swindon.

The arrival will come despite the firm losing a day's production last month when the plant was forced to shut down after an accident at Southampton Docks when a crane collapsed on a tanker.

That delayed the docking of a tanker carrying Honda gearboxes and the production of about 1,000 cars was delayed.

Within four weeks the factory has caught up with extra overtime.

Last year the Swindon plant showed a 22 per cent increase in production volume and built 238,000 vehicles.

This year it will produce a similar amount.

It was in November that the millionth Honda Civic rolled off the line at South Marston.

Seeing it off the line was Mr Hodgetts, who has worked for Honda for 17 years.

"It was a great day when we produced the first Civic and I never thought I'd see the millionth one coming off the line," he said.

Julie Cameron, head of communications at the Honda factory said: "The fact that we will have built two million vehicles here in Swindon shows our commitment to the UK.

"Of around the 150,000 Civics which are built here this year, a total of 44,000 are for the home market. Through our network of 180 dealers we are known for our reliability and values."

From Swindon the Civic and the CR-V is exported to more than 60 countries.