Jaguar Land Rover has told staff to stay home until Tuesday while it deals with the fallout from a cyber attack.
The weekend breach forced the automaker to shut down essential IT systems. That step disrupted both car sales and production.
Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain closed. Managers warn the shutdown could last longer while the situation is reviewed.
production and sales disrupted
Car sales have been heavily affected, though some transactions still went through, according to sources familiar with 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 support some operations while core systems remain offline.
The timing adds extra pressure. September usually drives high demand as customers collect vehicles with new registration plates.
suppliers and garages face challenges
The disruption has spread to suppliers. Many reduced operations and criticised Jaguar Land Rover for poor communication.
Independent garages also struggle. 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 parts database.
“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 take responsibility
On Wednesday, a hacker group claimed responsibility. The same collective attacked Marks and Spencer earlier this year.
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 suggested access to sensitive information.
Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is investigating. So far, no evidence shows customer data has been stolen.
digital security strategy under scrutiny
In 2023 Jaguar Land Rover signed a five-year £800m deal with Tata Consultancy Services. The contract focused on improving cybersecurity and digital systems.
The shutdown raises questions about that strategy. It also follows profit losses linked to rising costs from US tariffs.
