Jaguar Land Rover has ordered staff to stay home until Tuesday as it deals with the effects of a cyber attack.
The breach over the weekend forced the company to shut down vital IT systems. That action disrupted production lines and vehicle sales.
Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain closed. Managers say operations may stay suspended longer while the crisis is assessed.
sales and systems under strain
Car sales have been heavily disrupted, though some transactions still went ahead, according to people close to the situation.
Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, turned off systems on Sunday to limit the damage.
The company is restoring them carefully. Experts describe the process as highly complex. Temporary fixes allow some work to continue while systems remain offline.
The timing makes matters worse. September usually brings a surge in demand as customers collect new registration plates.
supply chain and garages affected
The disruption has rippled through suppliers. Many reduced activity and criticised Jaguar Land Rover for a lack of clear communication.
Garages are also struggling. Jaguar and Land Rover owners may face long waits for vital replacement parts.
James Wallis of Nyewood Express in West Sussex said he cannot access the database needed to order spares.
“That system covers every vehicle,” he explained. “Without it, I cannot place orders or carry out repairs.”
He added: “If the main source is offline, the job stops. Cars remain idle. Customers wait.”
hacker group claims responsibility
On Wednesday, a hacker group said it was behind the attack. Earlier this year, the same group targeted Marks and Spencer.
The English-speaking hackers, believed to be teenagers, call themselves “Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters.” They claimed they infiltrated Jaguar Land Rover’s network.
They released two images online. One showed internal repair guidance. The other contained computer log files.
A cybersecurity expert said the screenshots suggest access to restricted material.
Jaguar Land Rover confirmed an investigation is underway. So far, no evidence indicates that customer data has been stolen.
doubts over security strategy
In 2023 Jaguar Land Rover signed a five-year, £800m deal with Tata Consultancy Services. The contract promised stronger digital services and cybersecurity.
The current shutdown raises questions about that plan. It also follows profit losses blamed on rising costs from US tariffs.
