Jaguar Land Rover has told employees to stay home until Tuesday while it handles the fallout from a cyber attack.
The weekend breach forced the automaker to shut down essential IT systems. That move disrupted both production and car sales.
Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain closed. Managers warn the shutdown could continue as the situation is assessed.
production and sales heavily impacted
Car sales have faced major disruption, though some transactions still went through, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, turned off systems on Sunday to limit potential damage.
The company is restoring them gradually. Experts describe the process as highly complex. Temporary solutions support some operations while core systems remain offline.
The timing adds extra pressure. September usually sees high demand as customers collect vehicles with new registration plates.
suppliers and garages under strain
The disruption has spread to suppliers. Many reduced operations and criticised Jaguar Land Rover for weak communication.
Independent garages also face challenges. Owners of Jaguar and Land Rover cars risk long delays when ordering replacement parts.
James Wallis of Nyewood Express in West Sussex said he cannot access the parts database.
“That system covers every model,” he explained. “Without it, I cannot order or repair vehicles.”
He added: “If the source is offline, work stops. Cars remain idle. Customers wait.”
hackers take responsibility
On Wednesday, a hacker group claimed the attack. Earlier this year, the same collective targeted Marks and Spencer.
The group, believed to be teenagers, calls itself “Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters.” Members said they infiltrated Jaguar Land Rover’s systems.
They posted two images online. One showed guidance for charging issues. The other contained internal logs.
A cybersecurity expert said the screenshots suggested access to restricted information.
Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is investigating. So far, no evidence shows that customer data has been stolen.
cybersecurity strategy under scrutiny
In 2023 Jaguar Land Rover signed a five-year £800m contract with Tata Consultancy Services. The deal aimed to strengthen digital systems and cybersecurity.
The shutdown raises questions about that plan. It comes after profit losses linked to rising costs from US tariffs.
