{"id":70052,"date":"2025-09-15T08:18:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/jlr-cyber-attack-halts-global-car-production-and-sparks-urgent-calls-for-government-support\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T08:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:18:06","slug":"jlr-cyber-attack-halts-global-car-production-and-sparks-urgent-calls-for-government-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/jlr-cyber-attack-halts-global-car-production-and-sparks-urgent-calls-for-government-support\/","title":{"rendered":"JLR cyber attack halts global car production and sparks urgent calls for government support"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Has JLR Stopped Producing Cars Since the Cyber Attack?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been eyeing a new Land Rover or Jaguar, you might have noticed something odd: not a single new car has rolled off a JLR production line since September 1. The reason? A major cyber attack brought the company\u2019s global operations to a grinding halt. Three weeks on, the impact is still rippling through every corner of the business.<\/p>\n

JLR, the parent company behind Jaguar and Land Rover, was hit hard by hackers who targeted its IT systems. The result? Production lines went silent, parts ordering became a logistical nightmare, and dealerships found themselves unable to register new vehicles\u2014right in the middle of one of the busiest sales periods of the year. The company is still in the process of rebuilding its computer systems, and there\u2019s no clear timeline for when things will be back to normal.<\/p>\n

How Bad Is the Financial Impact on JLR and Its Suppliers?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk numbers. According to Professor David Bailey, a respected business economist, the shutdown could be costing JLR up to \u00a35 million every single day. That\u2019s not just a dent\u2014it\u2019s a crater in the company\u2019s finances. And the pain doesn\u2019t stop at JLR\u2019s front door.<\/p>\n

The real worry now is for the hundreds of suppliers who rely on JLR\u2019s business. Former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer recently warned that some of these suppliers could be pushed into bankruptcy if the shutdown drags on. In the automotive world, supply chains are tightly interwoven. When a major player like JLR stops production, smaller companies down the line feel the squeeze almost immediately. Many are already considering layoffs, and if the disruption continues, job losses could snowball.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Being Done to Protect Jobs in the Supply Chain?<\/p>\n

With thousands of jobs hanging in the balance, calls are growing for government intervention. Industry leaders and union officials are urging the UK government to introduce a furlough scheme\u2014similar to the one used during the Covid-19 pandemic\u2014to help protect workers\u2019 incomes while factories remain idle.<\/p>\n

Liam Byrne, chair of the Commons Business and Trade Committee, put it bluntly: what started as an IT problem is now threatening the entire advanced manufacturing sector. Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, echoed the urgency, stressing that ministers need to act fast to prevent vital skills and jobs from being lost for good.<\/p>\n

What Do We Know About the Cyber Attack and Who\u2019s Behind It?<\/p>\n

So, who\u2019s responsible for this chaos? A hacker group calling themselves Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters has claimed responsibility. If that name rings a bell, it\u2019s because they were also behind a high-profile attack on Marks & Spencer earlier this year, which cost the retailer an estimated \u00a3300 million in lost profit.<\/p>\n

The group claims to have exploited a well-known vulnerability in SAP Netweaver, a third-party software platform used by JLR. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had issued warnings about this flaw earlier in the year, and a software update was released to patch it. Whether JLR had implemented the fix remains unclear.<\/p>\n

While JLR has confirmed that some data was \u201caffected,\u201d the company hasn\u2019t specified exactly what was taken or whether a ransom demand has been made. The possibility that customer details were stolen is a real concern, and the company has brought in police and cybersecurity experts to help restore its systems safely.<\/p>\n

How Are Other Companies Responding to Similar Threats?<\/p>\n

JLR\u2019s experience is a wake-up call for the entire automotive industry\u2014and really, for any business that relies on complex digital infrastructure. Cyber attacks on manufacturers have been on the rise. According to a 2023 report from IBM Security, the manufacturing sector was the most targeted industry for ransomware attacks globally, accounting for nearly 25% of all incidents.<\/p>\n

Companies are now investing more heavily in cybersecurity, not just to protect their own operations but to safeguard their supply chains as well. Regular software updates, employee training, and robust incident response plans are becoming standard practice. Still, as the JLR case shows, even the biggest players can be caught off guard.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for JLR and Its Customers?<\/p>\n

For now, there\u2019s no official word on when JLR\u2019s production lines will be up and running again. The company is focused on rebuilding its IT systems and working closely with law enforcement and cybersecurity specialists to prevent future breaches. In the meantime, customers waiting for new vehicles will have to be patient, and suppliers are bracing for more uncertainty.<\/p>\n

The bigger lesson here? In today\u2019s hyper-connected world, a single cyber attack can bring even the most established manufacturers to a standstill. For JLR, the road to recovery will be challenging\u2014but it\u2019s also a chance to build back stronger, with smarter defenses and a renewed focus on resilience. If you\u2019re in the market for a new Jaguar or Land Rover, keep an eye on the headlines. The outcome of this crisis could shape the future of the UK\u2019s automotive industry for years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"JLR<\/a><\/p>\n

No new Land Rover cars have been produced since 1 September cyber attack; issues affecting JLR globally<\/p>\n

\n

JLR is still unable to build any cars at any of its global factories three weeks on from a cyber attack that crippled its business \u2013 and worries are now growing that those in its supply chain could go bankrupt.<\/p>\n

The Jaguar<\/a> and Land Rover<\/a> maker was targeted by hackers on 1 September and is still in the process of rebuilding its computer systems. The group that hit Marks & Spencer earlier this year has claimed responsibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This has led to production shutdowns at all of JLR’s global plants, parts ordering issues and retailers being stifled. A timescale for a fix is yet to be announced.<\/p>\n

The effect could be costing JLR up to \u00a35 million a day,\u00a0business economics professor<\/span> David Bailey told Autocar last week<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last Wednesday, JLR confirmed data has been “affected” as a result of the cyber attack, which, while not confirmed, is thought to mean customer details were stolen.<\/p>\n

JLR told Autocar today (Monday 15 September) that it has no official update to give, but reports over the weekend claimed that some of the firm’s suppliers could go bust as a result of the shutdowns.<\/p>\n

Former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer\u00a0told the BBC<\/a>: \u201cI would not be at all surprised to see bankruptcies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Palmer added that many suppliers will soon begin to slim their staff count as a result of the shutdown, saying: \u201cYou hold back in the first week or so of a shutdown; you bear those losses. But then\u00a0you go into the second week, more information becomes available \u2013\u00a0then you cut hard. So layoffs are either already happening\u00a0or are being planned.”<\/p>\n

To prevent widespread job losses, the government is facing calls for a furlough scheme to be set up, similar to that used during the Covid pandemic. This would involve the government subsidising workers’ pay packets while they are unable to do their jobs, taking the burden off their employers.<\/p>\n

One of those making the call is Commons Business and Trade Committee chairman Liam Byrne.<\/p>\n

The Labour MP said: “What began in some online systems is now rippling through the supply chain, threatening a cashflow crunch that could turn a short-term shock into long-term harm. We cannot afford to see a cornerstone of our advanced manufacturing base weakened by events beyond its control.”<\/p>\n

The general secretary of trade union Unite, Sharon Graham, has also\u00a0called for a furlough scheme.<\/p>\n

\u201cThousands of these workers in JLR’s supply chain now find their jobs are under an immediate threat because of the cyber attack,” she said. “Ministers need to act fast and introduce a furlough scheme to ensure that vital jobs and skills are not lost while JLR and its supply chain get back on track.”<\/p>\n

JLR hack: what happened?<\/h2>\n

Autocar\u00a0first reported issues affecting JLR on 1 September, when dealers\u00a0couldn’t register new cars\u00a0on\u00a0‘new plate\u00a0day’ , traditionally one of the year’s busiest for registrations.<\/p>\n

In an effort\u00a0to combat the hack, JLR began\u00a0\u201cshutting down our systems\u201d on 2 September.<\/p>\n

It’s still in the process of rebuilding them and\u00a0is unabel to\u00a0confirm a timescale for the fix.<\/p>\n

The hack has left the\u00a0Jaguar\u00a0and\u00a0Land Rover\u00a0maker\u00a0crippled.\u00a0No cars have been produced globally since,\u00a0leading to millions of pounds of lost income.<\/p>\n

The extent of the issues meant JLR brought in police and cybersecurity experts in\u00a0to \u201crestart our global applications in a controlled and safe manner\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

During this process,\u00a0which included an investigation,\u00a0it was discovered that “some data” was “affected”, said JLR. Those affected will be contacts, said the firm.<\/p>\n

It’s not officially known what data was taken or if a ransom demand has been made.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Who has claimed responsibility for JLR hack?<\/h2>\n

On 3 September, a group of hackers calling themselves Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>claimed responsibility for the attack on JLR.<\/p>\n

This is the same\u00a0group that hacked Marks & Spencer in May,\u00a0<\/span>causing the British retailer seven weeks of disruption and costing \u00a3300 million\u00a0in lost operating profit.<\/span><\/p>\n

It claimed to have obtained customer data after exploiting a similar\u00a0flaw in JLR\u2019s IT system. The claim\u00a0was made on a Telegram messenger group, where a user linked to the hackers\u00a0posted a screenshot of what appeared to show JLR’s internal system.<\/p>\n

A member of the group revealled\u00a0that a well-known flaw in SAP Netweaver,\u00a0third-party software used by JLR,\u00a0was exploited to access the\u00a0data.<\/p>\n

The US’s\u00a0Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned about the flaw earlier this year. An update for the software was released, but whether JLR applied it is unknown.<\/p>\n

It’s also not known what data was taken or if a ransom demand has been made of JLR.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70053,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-70052","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70052"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70052\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}