Plants stay closed
Jaguar Land Rover will keep its UK factories closed until at least Wednesday. The automaker is still struggling with disruption caused by a cyber attack more than a week ago.
Production has stopped at Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton. Operations in Slovakia, China and India are also offline. Factory staff have been instructed to remain at home.
On 31 August the company disabled its IT systems to protect them from damage. That decision created widespread disruption.
Efforts to restore systems
Jaguar Land Rover says teams are working around the clock to safely restart its networks. Cybersecurity specialists and police are assisting the recovery.
Last Thursday the firm extended its work-from-home order until at least Tuesday as repairs continued.
The company, owned by Tata Motors of India, has not confirmed reports that the crisis could last for weeks.
Supply chain disruption
Jaguar Land Rover usually produces about 1,000 cars daily. The shutdown has already put pressure on suppliers. Some have told their own workers not to report for duty.
Dealerships and garages were also affected. Dealers could not register new vehicles, and garages could not order spare parts. Temporary solutions have since been introduced.
The attack struck at a sensitive time. Early September saw the release of new licence plates, traditionally a peak period for deliveries.
Suppliers voice concern
Shaun Adams, managing director of the parts supplier Qualplast, warned of the risks of a long stoppage. He said that if it drags on for weeks, his company must review its plans.
Hacker group behind breach
A young hacker group has claimed responsibility. The same network targeted other British firms earlier this year, including a major retailer.
The hackers bragged about the breach on Telegram within days. Experts believe they accessed sensitive company data.
Investigators suspect extortion was the motive. Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is aware of the claims and continues its investigation.
