Jaguar Land Rover extends production halt through Oct. 1 after cyberattack

Jaguar Land Rover said Tuesday that its production lines will remain shut until at least Oct. 1 after a cyberattack in August, extending a pause that began Aug. 31. The move keeps plants in central and northwest England idle and underscores the disruption the incident has caused across the U.K. auto sector. The company, which is owned by Tata Motors, employs more than 30,000 people directly, with tens of thousands more in its broader supplier network tied to its manufacturing footprint. In a brief statement, JLR said it is continuing to investigate the incident and disclosed limited information about the attack, adding that the pause is being extended to provide clarity on the coming week as it builds a timeline for a phased restart of operations. The automaker emphasized that it is working with law enforcement and the U.K. government’s National Cyber Security Centre to ensure any restart is safe and secure.

A government official said Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Industry Minister Chris McDonald will visit Jaguar Land Rover on Tuesday to discuss the situation with the company and to talk to suppliers in the chain about potential impacts and support measures. The statement signaled a coordinated response to limit the financial strain on suppliers and workers who depend on the factory network, many of whom are already bearing the brunt of the stoppage.

The shutdown began at the end of August, affecting plants in the Midlands and the north of England, and it has reverberated through the U.K. auto industry. Analysts have noted that while JLR has not publicly disclosed the precise nature of the cyber intrusion, the disruption goes beyond a single factory line and highlights broader vulnerabilities in a tightly linked global supply chain. The company has said it is investigating and has not offered a timeline for a restart beyond the Oct. 1 target, leaving suppliers and workers awaiting more definitive guidance.

Beyond the immediate plants, the pause has potential knock-on effects for parts makers, logistics providers and dealerships that rely on a steady flow of components and finished vehicles. The government has pledged to coordinate with industry to mitigate financial pressures on suppliers and ensure a safe, orderly restart of production when conditions permit. While the timing remains uncertain, officials have stressed that the priority is restoring secure operations and safeguarding data and systems, even as manufacturers seek to minimize the loss of productivity and revenue.

Industry observers will be watching for signs of how quickly JLR can verify system integrity, reconstitute production lines and gradually ramp output. The incident comes at a time when the global auto sector faces a range of challenges, including supply chain bottlenecks, semiconductor shortages and evolving cybersecurity threats. The coming weeks will be critical for determining whether the pause can be followed by a controlled, phased restart across multiple plants, and how swiftly suppliers can resume operations alongside JLR’s own production plans.

As the investigation proceeds, the government’s involvement illustrates a broader push to shield the national manufacturing base from cyber incidents. Officials have indicated a willingness to mobilize support for suppliers hurt by factory shutdowns and to align regulatory and security measures with industry needs. In the near term, executives and workers are awaiting concrete guidance on restart timing, while investors and market observers will be watching how the company communicates progress and timelines as the investigation unfolds.