Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that its UK factories are expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday due to a cyber attack that occurred over a week ago. The production facilities at Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton, as well as operations in Austria, China, and India, have been unable to function since the incident.
In response to the attack on August 31, JLR shut down its IT systems to prevent further damage, a decision that has led to significant disruptions across the organization. Production line staff have been instructed to stay home during this time. The carmaker is reportedly working diligently to restore its networks in a controlled manner while collaborating with third-party cybersecurity firms and law enforcement agencies.
As of last Thursday, employees were advised to remain at home at least until Tuesday as JLR continues to manage the consequences of the cyber incident. The company, which is owned by Tata Motors of India, has not provided information about the possibility of extended disruptions. Typically, JLR produces around 1,000 cars per day, and the halt in production has affected suppliers, leading some to direct their employees not to come to work.
The shutdown has also impacted dealerships’ ability to register new cars, and service garages are facing challenges in ordering necessary parts, although interim solutions are reportedly being developed. The attack coincided with a peak period for car deliveries, as new registration plates were launched on September 1.
A group of hackers claiming responsibility for the attack has been linked to prior incidents targeting UK businesses. They reportedly boasted about their actions on the messaging app Telegram. Speculation suggests that the attackers may have accessed sensitive information and sought to extort money from JLR. The company has acknowledged the claims and is conducting an investigation.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15k9gjg05go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss