Jaguar Land Rover is moving towards a controlled restart of manufacturing after a cyber attack forced the company to halt operations across its UK sites. Testing has begun at several facilities, with production expected to resume shortly at the Wolverhampton engine plant.
The disruption, which began on 31 August, affected the company’s sites in Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton. Manufacturing was suspended throughout September as cybersecurity teams worked to contain the breach and restore systems. The company extended its production pause until at least the start of October while coordinating recovery efforts with the National Cyber Security Centre and law enforcement.
Analysts estimate the shutdown could cost the manufacturer around £120 million, with production normally averaging 1,000 vehicles a day. The pause also placed pressure on suppliers within the UK automotive supply chain, many of which are small and medium-sized firms dependent on JLR’s orders.
To mitigate financial risks, the Government announced a £1.5 billion loan guarantee to support JLR and provide assurance to suppliers awaiting payments. The automotive giant employs around 120,000 people across its supply chain and is one of the largest contributors to the UK’s manufacturing output.
