Production standstill continues
Jaguar Land Rover will keep its UK factories closed until at least Wednesday. The company is still battling the fallout from a cyber attack that started more than a week ago.
The plants in Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton remain closed. Facilities in Slovakia, China and India are also affected. Production staff have been ordered to stay home.
On 31 August the firm shut down its IT systems to protect them from further damage. That move caused major disruption.
Struggling to restore operations
Jaguar Land Rover says teams are working around the clock to restart systems safely. External cybersecurity experts and police agencies are involved.
Last Thursday the company extended its work-from-home order until at least Tuesday while recovery efforts continued.
The automaker, owned by Tata Motors of India, has not confirmed reports that the crisis may last weeks.
Supply chain feels the shock
The company usually produces around 1,000 cars each day. The production freeze has already hit suppliers hard. Some are believed to have sent their own employees home.
The cyber attack also disrupted other operations. Dealers could not register new cars, and garages could not order parts. Some temporary fixes have since been put in place.
The breach struck at a sensitive time. Early September is when new licence plates are released, a peak period for deliveries.
Warnings from suppliers
Shaun Adams, who runs the parts supplier Qualplast, warned of serious risks if the shutdown continues. He said a stoppage lasting weeks would force his company to rethink its future.
Hacker group steps forward
A group of young hackers has claimed responsibility for the attack. They had previously targeted other British businesses, including a major retailer.
The group boasted about the breach on Telegram within days. Security experts believe the hackers gained access to sensitive information.
Investigators suspect the attackers tried to extort money. Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it is aware of the claims and is investigating further.
