Factories remain closed
Jaguar Land Rover will keep its UK plants closed until at least Wednesday. The company continues to face disruption after a cyber attack 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.
Recovery efforts ongoing
Jaguar Land Rover says teams are working around the clock to safely restore its networks. Cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement are assisting.
Last Thursday the company extended its work-from-home order for staff until at least Tuesday while recovery continued.
The automaker, owned by India’s Tata Motors, has not confirmed reports that the shutdown could last for several weeks.
Supply chain under strain
Jaguar Land Rover normally produces about 1,000 vehicles daily. The halt has put heavy pressure on suppliers. Some have already told employees 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 have since eased the disruption.
The timing worsened the impact. New licence plates were released in early September, 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 would need to review its future plans.
Hackers claim responsibility
A young hacker group has claimed the attack. They previously targeted other UK businesses, including a major retailer.
The group boasted about the breach on Telegram within days. Experts believe they accessed sensitive company data.
Investigators suspect the motive was extortion. Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is aware of the claims and continues to investigate.
