Jaguar Land Rover Factory Staff Told to Stay Home After Cyber-Attack
Jaguar Land Rover has instructed factory employees to remain at home until at least next Tuesday as it addresses the aftermath of a cyber-attack.
The company ceased production at its facilities in Merseyside and the West Midlands after discovering unauthorized access to its systems. Workers at the Halewood plant in Merseyside, the factory in Solihull, and the engine production site in Wolverhampton have been advised not to return until 9 September, suggesting the issue may not be resolved quickly.
The UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, owned by Tata Group, suspended operations following the breach on Sunday. The company stated that the incident had caused significant disruption across its global activities.
Though no evidence indicates customer data was compromised, JLR opted to shut down its systems to lessen the attack’s effects.
The cyber-attack could require substantial time to resolve, mirroring recent incidents affecting other UK businesses, including retailers like M&S, the Co-op, and Harrods.
The breach adds to JLR’s challenges, which include ongoing difficulties related to US tariffs and declining consumer demand.
Sales have been disrupted during a peak period for the automotive market, with many customers waiting for new vehicles. September is one of the two months when updated registration plates are introduced in the UK. Service operations have also been impacted, with dealerships and repair centers unable to order parts digitally.
On Wednesday, a hacking group connected to previous retail breaches claimed responsibility for the attack. Messages and screenshots attributed to collectives such as Scattered Spider, Lapsus$, and ShinyHunters appeared on a Telegram channel.
Scattered Spider has been linked to earlier UK cyber-attacks, including one that halted online sales at M&S for six weeks, costing the retailer an estimated £300m.
A JLR spokesperson confirmed the company was aware of the claims and is investigating.
The automaker, headquartered in Coventry, has a workforce of 32,800 in the UK.
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