Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover extends global production shutdown till Oct 1 after crippling cyberattack

Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on Tuesday said it has extended the suspension of vehicle production at its plants worldwide until Wednesday, October 1, 2025, as it continues to grapple with the aftermath of a crippling cyber incident that has disrupted operations for nearly a month.

The British luxury carmaker confirmed that its factories in Merseyside in north-west England, Solihull in the West Midlands, and facilities in India, Slovakia and China remain at a standstill following an IT network shutdown.

In its latest statement, the company said the extension of the production pause was intended to provide “clarity for the coming week” as it works on a phased restart plan.

“Today we have informed colleagues, suppliers and partners that we have extended the current pause in production until Wednesday 1 October 2025, following the cyber incident,” JLR said.

“Our teams continue to work around the clock alongside cybersecurity specialists, the NCSC and law enforcement to ensure we restart in a safe and secure manner.”

The prolonged shutdown is estimated to be costing the company tens of millions of pounds a day in lost revenue and has raised alarm over the impact on several firms in JLR’s supply chain.

JLR employs over 33,000 people in the UK and supports around 200,000 jobs through suppliers.

UK Industry Minister Chris McDonald said he and Business Secretary Peter Kyle will meet affected suppliers this week to assess the impact and offer support.

“We have two priorities: helping Jaguar Land Rover get back up and running as soon as possible and ensuring the long-term health of the supply chain,” McDonald said.

“We are acutely aware of the difficulties the stoppage is causing for those suppliers and their staff, many of whom are already taking a financial hit through no fault of their own.”

The UK government’s cyber experts are assisting the company and working to understand potential disruptions to the wider automotive sector, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said after a meeting with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) last week.

Trade unions have urged the government to consider emergency financial support, including a furlough scheme, to protect workers as the shutdown continues.

A hacker collective calling itself Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has previously targeted major UK retailers, including Marks & Spencer and Co-op, in a string of high-profile cyber intrusions this year.

JLR said its retailers remain open and customer services continue to operate despite the disruption, thanking employees, suppliers and partners for their “continued support and patience” during what it described as a “difficult time.”