Extended factory closures
Jaguar Land Rover will keep its UK factories closed until at least Wednesday. The company is still facing disruption after a cyber attack more than a week ago.
Production has stopped at Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton. Sites in Slovakia, China and India are also affected. Factory workers have been told to stay home.
On 31 August the automaker shut down its IT systems to protect them from further damage. The move caused widespread operational disruption.
Efforts to restore networks
Jaguar Land Rover says teams are working around the clock to safely restart its systems. Cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement agencies are assisting.
Last Thursday the company extended its work-from-home order for staff until at least Tuesday while recovery continued.
The firm, owned by Tata Motors of India, has not commented on reports suggesting the disruption could last several weeks.
Suppliers face pressure
Jaguar Land Rover normally produces about 1,000 cars daily. The shutdown has placed heavy strain on suppliers. Some have already instructed staff not to report for work.
Dealerships and garages were also affected. Dealers could not register new cars, and garages could not order spare parts. Temporary solutions are now in place.
The timing worsened the impact. Early September saw the release of new licence plates, traditionally a busy period for vehicle deliveries.
Supplier concerns rise
Shaun Adams, managing director of the parts supplier Qualplast, warned of the risks of a prolonged shutdown. He said that if it lasts weeks, the company would need to reconsider its future plans.
Hacker group claims responsibility
A young hacker group has claimed the attack. The same group previously targeted other UK businesses, including a major retailer.
They boasted about the breach on Telegram within days. Experts believe they gained access to sensitive company data.
Investigators suspect the hackers tried to extort money. Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is aware of the claims and continues to investigate.
