UK Government Intervenes to Revive JLR Manufacturing Following Cyberattack
The UK government has officially provided support to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to help resume automobile production after a cyberattack severely disrupted company operations starting early September 2025. The extensive impact of the cyber incident on JLR’s UK factories and the supply chain's 104,000 jobs necessitated immediate action.
The cyber attack, which occurred on September 1, has led to production shutdowns at all of JLR's global plants. Since then, no cars have been built globally. The attack is causing issues with parts ordering for JLR, and the cost of the production shutdown could be up to £5 million a day, according to business economics professor David Bailey.
In response, the government is working closely with JLR to understand any impacts on the supply chain. The UK government's assistance is being used by JLR to further identify the challenges faced following the cyber incident. The government is also supporting the task of restoring production operations at JLR.
The recent cyber incident at JLR is having a significant impact on the company and the wider automotive supply chain. Union Unite, a workers' union, has stated that employees within the JLR supply chain are being moved onto reduced or zero-hours contracts by employers struggling to stay afloat. The union has also stated that employees within the supply chain are being advised to apply for Universal Credit.
In a concerning development, Union Unite has written to the UK government demanding the establishment of a furlough scheme to support suppliers affected by the JLR cyber incident. Reports suggest that some JLR suppliers may go bankrupt due to the ongoing issues. The supply chain is reportedly at the brink of collapsing, according to workers' union Unite.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has confirmed the government's involvement in helping JLR rebuild its infiltrated internal computer systems. The government's cyber experts are assessing the impacts on the supply chain as a result of the cyber attack.
JLR has announced plans to restart production lines on September 24. The company is using the government's assistance to help with this process. However, the majority of JLR's employees have been off work since the cyber attack, with lost hours being banked. The retail operations for JLR have been stifled as a result of the incident.
As the situation evolves, it is clear that the cyber attack on JLR has had, and continues to have, far-reaching implications for the UK's automotive industry and its workforce. The government's support is crucial in helping JLR and the wider supply chain recover from this incident.
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