Jaguar Land Rover has instructed employees to stay home until Tuesday while it manages the impact of a cyber attack.
The weekend breach forced the automaker to shut down vital IT systems. That move disrupted both production and car sales.
Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain closed. Managers warn the suspension could last longer as the situation is assessed.
production and sales disrupted
Car sales have been severely affected, though some transactions still went ahead, according to people familiar with the matter.
Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, switched off systems on Sunday to reduce potential damage.
The company is restoring them gradually. Experts describe the process as highly complex. Temporary work-arounds support limited operations while core systems remain offline.
The timing worsens the situation. September typically brings strong demand as customers collect vehicles with new registration plates.
suppliers and garages under pressure
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 vehicles risk long delays when ordering replacement parts.
James Wallis of Nyewood Express in West Sussex said he cannot access the database listing all parts.
“That system covers every model,” he explained. “Without it, I cannot order or repair vehicles.”
He added: “If the source is offline, repairs stop. Cars remain idle. Customers wait.”
hackers claim responsibility
On Wednesday, a hacker group said it carried out the attack. Earlier this year, the same collective 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 issues. The other displayed 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 that customer data has been stolen.
digital security plan questioned
In 2023 Jaguar Land Rover signed a five-year £800m contract with Tata Consultancy Services. The deal focused on strengthening cybersecurity and digital systems.
The shutdown raises fresh doubts about that strategy. It also follows profit losses linked to rising costs from US tariffs.
