Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to restart some of its production after a cyber-attack forced it to stop work on September 1. The attack hit their operations overnight, affecting plants in the West Midlands and Merseyside.
Production is expected to begin again at the Wolverhampton engine facility on October 6, with other plants following in a phased approach. However, sources predict it will take several weeks for the company to reach full capacity.
In a message to staff, JLR emphasized that recovery efforts are underway. They are working closely with cybersecurity experts and the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre to safely restore operations.
This situation has put enormous pressure on JLR’s suppliers. Many small businesses depend on JLR for their livelihood and are at risk of bankruptcy. About 30,000 people work at JLR’s UK plants, and around 100,000 are employed in the supply chain. Some suppliers focus solely on JLR, while others work with different carmakers.
One supplier expressed relief at the restart but stressed that the financial losses incurred made additional support essential. They warned that many vulnerable firms can’t afford more debt.
In response to the crisis, the UK government announced loan guarantees worth £1.5 billion for JLR. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that this funding would help maintain jobs and support the supply chain. JLR plans to use this money to aid suppliers directly connected to them.
The spokesperson for JLR thanked all employees and partners for their patience and confirmed that more updates will follow as the recovery continues.
This cyber-attack is part of a broader trend. Many businesses in the UK are experiencing similar threats. For example, luxury department store Harrods recently faced a data breach affecting 430,000 customer records. Cybersecurity remains a top concern as these attacks increase in frequency, impacting companies across sectors.
A recent survey indicated that 80% of businesses have experienced cyber threats in the past year, underscoring the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures. As JLR navigates this challenging situation, it serves as a vital reminder of the digital risks in our connected world.
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