Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has warned that production disruptions caused by a cyber-attack could last until October, with thousands of workers told to stay home this week. The UK's largest car manufacturer, owned by India's Tata Group, halted production after discovering hackers had infiltrated its systems a week ago.
Workers at JLR's sites in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton have been told to stay away until at least Tuesday, with updates expected on Monday. It is likely that thousands will remain on pause until Thursday or beyond, affecting operations in the UK, Slovakia, Brazil, and India, as well as dozens of suppliers such as Evtec, WHS Plastics, and OPmobility.
The attack has forced JLR to operate without access to dozens of digital systems, including databases for spare parts. Dealerships and garages are using manual systems, such as pen and paper, to register vehicles and secure parts. JLR has informed the Information Commissioner's Office about the incident, flagging the risk of data infiltration, though no breach has been confirmed.
A group of English-speaking hackers, linked to previous attacks on retailers, claimed responsibility via a Telegram channel. JLR is working with cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement to restore systems safely. A spokesperson said: 'We continue to work around the clock to restart our global applications in a controlled and safe manner.'
