Jaguar Land Rover has told employees to stay home until Tuesday as it deals with the aftermath of a cyber attack.
The weekend breach forced the company to shut down critical IT systems. That step disrupted both car production and sales.
Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain closed. Managers warn the shutdown could last longer as the situation is reviewed.
production and sales under pressure
Car sales have been heavily disrupted, though some deals still went through, according to sources close to the matter.
Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, switched off systems on Sunday to limit potential damage.
The company is restoring them gradually. Experts describe the process as highly complex. Temporary work-arounds keep some functions running while core systems remain offline.
The timing adds extra pressure. September usually drives strong demand as customers collect vehicles with new registration plates.
supply chain and garages struggle
The disruption has spread across suppliers. Many reduced operations and criticised Jaguar Land Rover for poor communication.
Independent garages also face difficulties. Jaguar and Land Rover owners risk long delays when ordering replacement parts.
James Wallis of Nyewood Express in West Sussex said he cannot access the database that lists all parts.
“That system covers every model,” he explained. “Without it, I cannot order or repair vehicles.”
He added: “If the source is offline, work halts. 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 breached Jaguar Land Rover’s systems.
They shared two images online. One showed guidance for charging issues. The other displayed internal logs.
A cybersecurity expert said the screenshots suggested access to restricted 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 contract with Tata Consultancy Services. The deal focused on improving cybersecurity and digital operations.
The shutdown now raises doubts about that strategy. It follows profit losses linked to rising costs from US tariffs.
