Jaguar Land Rover has told employees to stay home until Tuesday while it manages the fallout from a cyber attack.
The weekend breach forced the automaker to shut down critical IT systems. That move disrupted production and car sales.
Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain idle. Managers warn the shutdown could last longer as the situation is reviewed.
production and sales heavily impacted
Car sales have faced serious disruption, though some transactions still went through, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, turned off systems on Sunday to reduce potential damage.
The company is restoring them gradually. Experts call the process highly complex. Temporary solutions support some activity while core systems remain offline.
The timing worsens the problem. September typically drives strong demand as customers collect new vehicles with fresh registration plates.
supply chain and garages affected
The disruption has spread to suppliers. Many scaled back 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 said. “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. The same collective previously 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 problems. The other contained internal logs.
A cybersecurity expert said the screenshots indicated access to sensitive information.
Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is investigating. So far, no evidence shows customer data has been stolen.
digital security strategy questioned
In 2023 Jaguar Land Rover signed a five-year £800m deal with Tata Consultancy Services. The contract aimed to boost cybersecurity and digital transformation.
The shutdown raises new questions about that strategy. It follows profit losses linked to rising costs from US tariffs.
