Plants remain closed longer
Jaguar Land Rover will keep its British factories shut at least until Wednesday. The carmaker continues to struggle with the aftermath of a cyber attack more than a week ago.
The plants in Halewood, Solihull and the Wolverhampton engine facility remain closed, as do the sites in Slovakia, China and India. Workers from the production lines have been told to stay home.
The company shut down its IT systems on 31 August to prevent damage. This protective move caused major disruption.
Battle against digital threat
Jaguar Land Rover says it is working around the clock to restore its networks safely. External cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement agencies are supporting the process.
Last Thursday the company told employees to remain at home until at least Tuesday as it dealt with the fallout.
The carmaker, owned by Tata Motors of India, has not confirmed reports that the disruption could last for several weeks.
Heavy impact on suppliers
Under normal circumstances Jaguar Land Rover builds around 1,000 vehicles a day. The shutdown is hitting suppliers hard. Some are understood to have already sent their own staff home.
The problems stretch beyond manufacturing. Dealers were initially unable to register new cars, while garages could not order parts. Provisional workarounds are now in place for some processes.
The attack came at a particularly difficult time. New vehicle registration plates were released at the start of September, usually a peak moment for deliveries.
Concern among supplier firms
Shaun Adams, head of the parts supplier Qualplast, voiced concern about a longer shutdown. He warned that if disruption continues for weeks, the company must rethink its strategy.
Young hackers boast about attack
A group of young hackers, already responsible for attacks on other UK businesses, claimed responsibility for the strike. One of their earlier targets was a major retailer.
The group bragged on the messaging app Telegram only days after the incident. Security experts believe the attackers accessed sensitive data.
According to initial findings, the hackers attempted to extort money. Jaguar Land Rover stated it is aware of the claims and continues to investigate the case.
