The first product of this venture was the 1981 Triumph Acclaim, which was produced for three years until it was replaced by the Rover 200 Series; both cars were based on the Honda Ballade.

The site had been used during the Second World War for aircraft production by Phillips & Powis and Short Brothers, and later by Vickers-Armstrongs-Supermarine; its selection in 1938 took into account the presence of the skilled workforce at the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway.

[7] In September 2001, HUM opened a second car assembly plant at Swindon, adding two hundred jobs and increasing capacity to 250,000 vehicles a year.

In October 2002, HUM managing director Ken Keir stated that Honda would maintain vehicle production in the United Kingdom, irrespective of whether or not it joined the Eurozone.

[11][12] In February 2008, it was announced that Honda would be making an £80 million investment in new production facilities at Swindon, for the manufacture of plastic car parts and metal castings for engines.

In September 2012, Honda announced a £267 million investment programme at the Swindon site, to support the introduction of new models of the Civic and CR-V, and a new 1.6 litre diesel engine.

[21][22] In February 2019, Honda announced that the plant would close in 2021, with the loss of about 3,500 jobs in the area, and production shifting to Japan, North America and China.

[27] HUM officially ceased operations on 30 July 2021 with the final car produced, a Modern Steel Metallic Civic Sport hatchback to be exported to the USA, rolling off the line the previous day.

On display during the final day of production was a unique Civic Type R with workers' signatures on the bonnet and doors, the name 'Honda of the UK Manufacturing' over the front-left wheel arch, and a Union Jack emblazoned on the back.

[28] The site was bought by Panattoni, an American industrial real estate developer, who intended to use it for a large-scale logistics operation.

[30] Honda announced in March 2021 that the site had been sold to Panattoni, an American industrial real estate developer, who would use it for a large-scale logistics operation.

It includes a public playground that commemorates Swindon's manufacturing history (trains, aircraft, cars), plus trees planted in memory of two workers who died in service.