Just over 10 years after it first began production, the factory produced a silver-coloured CR-V Honda to be exported to America.

Trade minister Nigel Griffiths was there to watch the milestone.

Minoru Harada, president of Honda Motor Europe, said: "I am proud to say that the cars built at Swindon are recognised as the best in their class, wherever they are sold.

"Their quality is a match for that of our other models built anywhere in the world."

Honda has invested more than �1bn in the Swindon site, which now employs 4,300 workers.

The plant has also built 1.5m engines over the past 10 years.