Jaguar Land Rover has told factory employees to stay home until Tuesday as it struggles with the consequences of a cyber attack.
The breach forced the carmaker to shut down essential IT systems over the weekend. That step has disrupted production and car sales.
Plants in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain closed. Managers warn the shutdown could last longer while the situation is reviewed.
production and sales in trouble
Car sales have been badly affected, though some deals still went ahead, according to sources familiar with the disruption.
Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, disabled its systems on Sunday to limit potential damage.
The company is now restoring operations slowly. Experts describe the process as highly complex. Work-arounds support some functions while key systems remain down.
The timing could not be worse. September is usually a busy period as customers collect vehicles with new registration plates.
suppliers and garages face disruption
The impact has spread to suppliers. Many cut operations and accused Jaguar Land Rover of poor communication during the crisis.
Garages also struggle. Jaguar and Land Rover owners could face delays when they need replacement parts.
James Wallis from Nyewood Express in West Sussex said he cannot access the vital parts database.
“That list covers every model,” he said. “If I cannot reach it, I cannot order or repair cars.”
He added: “When the source is blocked, work halts. Cars stay idle. Customers wait.”
hackers take responsibility
On Wednesday, a hacker group claimed it carried out the attack. The same group previously targeted Marks and Spencer.
The collective, believed to be teenagers, calls itself “Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters.” Members said they accessed Jaguar Land Rover’s systems.
They posted two images online. One showed charging fault guidance. The other displayed internal computer logs.
A security expert said the images suggest access to information outsiders should never see.
Jaguar Land Rover confirmed an investigation is underway. So far, no evidence shows that customer data has been stolen.
digital strategy questioned
In 2023 Jaguar Land Rover signed a five-year £800m deal with Tata Consultancy Services. The contract promised stronger cybersecurity and digital upgrades.
The shutdown now raises questions about that strategy. It follows recent profit losses blamed on rising costs caused by US tariffs.
