Jaguar Land Rover suppliers warned of collapse as cyberattack extends shutdown
Ministers urged to act as JLR extends factory shutdown into October after cyber breach
Jaguar Land Rover said its factories will remain closed until at least Oct. 1 after hackers disrupted its computer systems at the end of August, extending production shutdowns into October. The crisis is estimated to have cost JLR about £2 billion in lost sales and has heightened concerns about resilience across Britain’s automotive supply chain.
About 34,000 people are employed by JLR, with more than 200,000 others in its UK supply chain. With production halted, suppliers have faced cash-flow squeezes and some have cut staff or paused investments, prompting warnings that the disruption could widen further if the plants do not resume quickly. Local lawmakers voiced alarm; Labour MP Antonia Bance warned that the shutdown risks disintegration of the supply chain, noting the scale of impact on suppliers and skilled labor.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle visited the West Midlands for talks with JLR and suppliers, saying restoring operations quickly is a top priority and that the government stands with Britain’s automotive sector as it works to minimise the incident’s impact.
Unite, the trade union, urged the government to back a furlough-style scheme to subsidise wages in the supply chain to protect jobs and industries that are vital to the economy. The government has refused to sanction such support.
The disruption at JLR follows a wave of high-profile cyber attacks on UK firms, including Marks & Spencer and the Co-op, underscoring the broader risk to the country’s manufacturing base. JLR said its focus remains on supporting customers, suppliers, colleagues, and retailers who stay open, and thanked everyone for their patience.
While the company works to recover, officials and industry observers say the case highlights the fragility of just-in-time manufacturing networks and the importance of swift, coordinated action to avert broader economic damage.
JLR's supplier partners and regional authorities will be watching closely for signs that production can restart safely, as the government weighs whether to broaden financial support to protect jobs in the wider supply chain.
