Jaguar Land Rover has instructed staff to stay home until Tuesday while it manages the fallout from a cyber attack.
The weekend breach forced the company to shut down critical IT systems. That move disrupted both production and car sales.
Factories in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain idle. Managers warn the shutdown could continue while the situation is reviewed.
production and sales hit hard
Car sales have been heavily affected, though some transactions still went through, according to people 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 functions while core systems remain offline.
The timing adds extra pressure. September typically sees strong demand as customers collect vehicles with new registration plates.
supply chain and garages under strain
The disruption has spread to suppliers. Many reduced operations and criticised Jaguar Land Rover for weak communication.
Independent garages also face difficulties. 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 claim responsibility
On Wednesday, a hacker group said it carried out the attack. The same collective targeted 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 contained 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.
questions over digital security
In 2023 Jaguar Land Rover signed a five-year £800m contract with Tata Consultancy Services. The deal aimed to improve cybersecurity and digital systems.
The shutdown raises fresh doubts about that strategy. It follows profit losses linked to rising costs from US tariffs.
