Jaguar Land Rover Resumes Some Manufacturing After Cyber-Attack
LONDON - Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that it will resume some production at its UK facilities in the coming days, following a cyber-attack that forced the company to suspend operations on September 1.
According to industry sources, manufacturing is expected to restart first at the engine facility in Wolverhampton on October 6, with other plants having a phased return. The company had previously stated that it did not expect production to resume until October 1 at the earliest.
"We continue to work around the clock alongside cybersecurity specialists, the UK government and our own teams to ensure a safe and secure restart," said a JLR spokesperson in a note to staff on Monday. "The foundational work of our recovery programme is firmly underway."
The cyber-attack, which occurred on August 31, caused significant disruption to JLR's operations, with all three UK facilities - Solihull, Castle Bromwich, and Halewood - affected.
Industry experts say that the attack was likely a sophisticated malware infection, which targeted JLR's IT systems. "It's not uncommon for companies in this sector to be targeted by cyber-attacks," said Theo Leggett, business correspondent for BBC News. "However, the fact that JLR has been able to contain the damage and resume production is a testament to their robust cybersecurity measures."
The UK government has been working closely with JLR to support its recovery efforts. A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said: "We are providing guidance and support to Jaguar Land Rover as they work to recover from this cyber-attack. We take these incidents very seriously and will continue to work with companies to ensure that their cybersecurity measures are robust."
The resumption of production is expected to have a significant impact on the UK automotive industry, which has been facing supply chain disruptions due to Brexit uncertainty.
As JLR continues its phased restart, industry experts say that it's essential for companies to prioritize cybersecurity and invest in robust IT systems. "This incident highlights the importance of investing in cybersecurity measures," said Rachel Clun, business reporter for BBC News. "Companies need to be proactive in protecting themselves against cyber threats, rather than just reacting to them after they occur."
JLR has not disclosed the extent of the damage caused by the cyber-attack or how much it will cost to recover from the incident.
The company's phased restart is expected to take several weeks, with production lines running at full capacity likely to be restored in late October.
*Reporting by Bbc.*
