Car manufacturer Honda is to take on an extra 700 workers at its plant in Swindon the firm has revealed. It will lift the size of the Swindon workforce to 4,900 during the 20th anniversary of Honda first bringing production to the UK. 'We plan to increase output of both the CR-V and the Civic in our Swindon, UK plant from next spring, taking Swindon up to its full capacity of 250,000 units on a yearly basis, within 2007,' said Honda's president and chief executive, Takeo Fukui. An extra shift will be added at the Swindon plant, increasing efficiency, with most of the new jobs being in production. Purchasing specialists and maintenance engineers will also be employed, with recruitment starting immediately. Earlier this year Honda celebrated 20 years of its operations at Swindon, in which time it has invested £1.33bn. Derek Simpson, general secretary of the union Amicus which represents many of the workers, said the expansion demonstrated 'car companies don't have to move abroad to be profitable'. Dave Hodgetts, director of planning and administration at Honda, said the announcement was a 'massive vote of confidence' in workers at Swindon. 'It clearly demonstrates Honda's long-term commitment to the region and to British manufacturing,' he said.