Jaguar Land Rover resumes UK production after cyberattack
Phased restart follows nearly three-week shutdown that cost millions and disrupted supply chains
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the luxury‑car arm of Tata Motors, announced a phased restart of its UK manufacturing after a cyberattack forced a near‑three‑week shutdown. The breach, which began on 31 August, crippled IT systems at JLR’s three British plants—Solihull, Wolverhampton and Halewood—halting output of roughly 1,000 vehicles per day and sidelining most of its 33,000 employees.
During the shutdown the company lost an estimated $68 million per week, prompting a sharp decline in July sales of almost 11 percent, a dip already aggravated by earlier U.S. tariff pressures on imports. The cyber incident also disrupted the financial system that manages vehicle wholesale, forcing JLR to inform suppliers that only limited systems were back online.
The UK government responded with a £1.5 billion (≈ $2 billion) loan guarantee aimed at stabilising JLR’s supply chain and averting broader economic fallout. JLR’s spokesperson said the restart is being carried out “measured and controlled,” working with cybersecurity experts, the National Cyber Security Centre and law‑enforcement to ensure security while gradually restoring logistics, invoicing and wholesale platforms.
Initial production is expected to resume at the Wolverhampton engine plant on 6 October, with other lines to follow in the weeks after. Industry insiders caution that full capacity may take several weeks to achieve.
Financial analysts have downgraded Tata Motors’ outlook, with Moody’s projecting a drop in consolidated EBITDA for FY 2025‑26 to about $850 million, down from earlier forecasts of roughly $3 billion, reflecting the cyber loss and its ripple effects on deliveries to Europe and North America.
The attack highlights growing cyber‑risk exposure for global manufacturers and has spurred calls for stronger digital defenses. Despite the disruption, JLR’s leadership maintains that the brand’s long‑term strategy—electrification of its lineup and continued investment in UK and Indian facilities—remains intact, and that restoring stable production is now the top priority.
