Media reports suggest that the disruption to Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) caused by a recent cyber-attack will continue further into this week and possibly longer. Sky News reports that employees have been told to stay at home until Wednesday 10th September and that the decision on a return to work is being reviewed daily.
Output at JLR manufacturing plants in Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton (engines) has been halted as result of the company’s response to the cyber-attack.
The company said last week that its manufacturing and retail operations had been severely disrupted by the attack and it was shutting down online systems that could be impacted.
The cyber-attack was reportedly carried out by the same group that caused UK retailer Marks & Spencer to suspend online retail operations – for many weeks – earlier this year.
At the weekend, JLR issued a statement: ‘We continue to work around the clock to restart our global applications in a controlled and safe manner following the recent cyber incident. We are working with third‑party cybersecurity specialists and alongside law enforcement.
‘We want to thank all our customers, partners, suppliers and colleagues for their patience and support. We are very sorry for the disruption this incident has caused. Our retail partners remain open and we will continue to provide further updates.’
GlobalData analyst Justin Cox told Just Auto: “It is worrying, not just because of the cyber-attack itself – on the face of it a sign of vulnerabilities in cyber defences that need to be addressed urgently – but for the uncertainties that result, not least on how long the disruption to production lines will last.
“The longer the disruption goes on, the more damaging it will be for JLR and for its dealers and suppliers up and down the supply and value chains – not just in the UK, but across the world.”
