JLR cyber attack threatens thousands of supply-chain jobs, MP warns

A senior MP warned that the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) cyber attack could put thousands of supply-chain jobs at risk after the company shut down production and isolated computer systems more than two weeks ago.

Liam Byrne, chair of the Commons business and trade committee and the Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and North Solihull, said supply-chain workers had already been laid off in their hundreds and urged the government to provide emergency support to affected suppliers. JLR has said factory production will not resume until at least 24 September as it continues a forensic investigation into the incident.

The company paused production on 1 September after discovering the cyber incident and subsequently took several computer systems offline. JLR apologised for the disruption and said it was working with law enforcement and external cyber specialists; a criminal investigation has been opened. The firm described speculation that the outage could last until November as "speculation," but confirmed it was considering a "controlled restart" of global operations only after its forensic work is complete.

Byrne said the scale of the attack amounted to a "digital siege" that had sent a "cyber shockwave through their supply chain" and that the government should act as a backstop, proposing a Covid-style emergency support mechanism for suppliers. "We fear if the government doesn't step up soon, people will be laid off in their thousands," he said. He compared the incident to a previous attack on Marks & Spencer, saying this breach appeared to be "much, much worse."

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker said the outage was having a "massive impact" on JLR and its suppliers. He said he was liaising with the business secretary, the chancellor, JLR and unions to assess the economic impact and to develop approaches to assist affected businesses over coming weeks and months.

The shutdown affects JLR's UK manufacturing footprint, including plants at Solihull, Castle Bromwich and Halewood, and an engine facility in Wolverhampton, as well as operations overseas. Industry sources cited by media have estimated the company could be losing at least £50 million a week as a result of the halted lines, though JLR has not disclosed a total figure for the damage to its operations or finances.

JLR said it delayed restarting production to allow for a thorough forensic investigation and to ensure a controlled resumption of activity. The company emphasised it was taking steps to restore services safely and that it was communicating with employees, suppliers and other stakeholders. Unions and suppliers have begun to quantify the immediate effects on workforces and contracts.

The incident adds to concerns about the vulnerability of complex manufacturing supply chains to cyber attacks and the potential wider economic consequences when a major manufacturer is affected. Byrne urged the Treasury to consider an emergency support mechanism because many smaller suppliers lack the insurance coverage or cash reserves to weather prolonged stops in production.

Ministers have been briefed on the situation and officials are in discussions with JLR, regional authorities and industry representatives to monitor the developing picture. Companies and regional leaders are compiling data on the scale of disruptions to pinpoint where interventions might be needed.

As investigations continue, JLR said it remained focused on restoring operations and supporting its workforce and supply chain. Parliament's business and trade committee and local officials have said they will continue pressing the government for clarity on any emergency financial measures and for information on steps to strengthen resilience across the automotive supply chain.