Factories remain closed
Jaguar Land Rover will keep its UK plants shut until at least Wednesday. The company continues to struggle with disruption from a cyber attack that began more than a week ago.
Production is suspended at Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton. Facilities in Slovakia, China and India are also offline. Assembly line workers have been told to stay home.
On 31 August the company shut down its IT systems to prevent further damage. That move caused widespread operational disruption.
Efforts to restore systems
Jaguar Land Rover says teams are working around the clock to safely bring networks back online. Cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement are assisting.
Last Thursday the company extended its work-from-home order until at least Tuesday while recovery efforts continued.
The automaker, owned by India’s Tata Motors, has not confirmed reports suggesting the disruption could last for weeks.
Supply chain under pressure
Jaguar Land Rover normally produces about 1,000 cars daily. The shutdown has placed heavy strain on suppliers. Some have already told staff not to report for work.
Dealerships and garages were also affected. Dealers could not register new cars, and workshops could not order spare parts. Temporary solutions are now in place.
The timing worsened the situation. Early September saw the release of new licence plates, a peak period for vehicle deliveries.
Supplier concerns grow
Shaun Adams, managing director of parts supplier Qualplast, warned that a prolonged stoppage would be damaging. He said if it lasts weeks, his company must review its future plans.
Hackers claim responsibility
A young hacker group has claimed the attack. The same group previously targeted other UK businesses, including a major retailer.
The hackers bragged about the breach on Telegram within days. Experts believe they accessed sensitive company data.
Investigators suspect extortion was the motive. Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is aware of the claims and continues to investigate.
