Jaguar Land Rover Extends Production Halt Until 2025 After Cyber Attack

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), a subsidiary of Tata Motors, has extended its production halt until October 1, 2025, due to a network attack that occurred in early September. The cyber incident has significantly impacted the company's operations, affecting approximately 1,000 vehicles produced daily across its three UK factories. The extended shutdown has led to the suspension of thousands of jobs, causing a ripple effect throughout the UK automotive industry and beyond.

The network attack, which took place in early September, forced JLR to halt production to contain the cyber intrusion. Despite the company's swift response, production has yet to resume, and the impact is spreading. The UK government and industry bodies have issued a joint statement revealing that multiple government departments, including cybersecurity experts, are collaborating with JLR to restore production and analyze the potential chain reactions this event could have on the entire supply chain.

JLR's vast supply network in the UK supports approximately 104,000 jobs, with the majority coming from small and medium-sized enterprises. The union has warned that if the shutdown continues, it could lead to a wave of layoffs, urging the government to provide timely support to stabilize employment. The impact is not limited to the UK; JLR's overseas suppliers are also affected. For instance, a German automotive parts manufacturer, which supplies exhaust systems to JLR's Slovakia Nitra plant, was forced to halt production at that facility following the cyber attack. The Nitra plant is responsible for producing JLR's popular SUV models, Discovery and Defender, and its production halt has exacerbated global supply chain tensions.

JLR has been under significant financial pressure, including increased tariffs in the US and declining demand in the Chinese market, which have already impacted its revenue. The production and sales losses from this cyber attack could result in additional economic losses exceeding 100 million pounds for the company. Currently, the UK government, industry bodies, and JLR are working together to restore normal production as quickly as possible and comprehensively assess and mitigate the long-term impact of this cyber attack on the entire automotive supply chain.