Jaguar Land Rover Extends Factory Shutdown Amid Ongoing Cyber Attack Investigation

Jaguar Land Rover Extends Plant Shutdown After Cyber Attack LONDON - Jaguar Land Rover's UK factories are expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday after a cyber attack disrupted operations just over a week ago. The carmaker, owned by India's Tata Motors, shut down its IT systems on August 31 in response to the attack, causing major disruption. According to company officials, staff who work on production lines have been told to remain at home as the company works around the clock to restart its networks in a controlled and safe manner. Jaguar Land Rover is liaising with third-party cyber security specialists and law enforcement agencies to mitigate the impact of the attack. "We are working closely with our partners to resolve this issue as quickly as possible," said a spokesperson for Jaguar Land Rover, who declined to comment further on the nature of the attack or its potential duration. The shutdown has significant implications for the company's production schedule. Under normal circumstances, Jaguar Land Rover builds around 1,000 vehicles per day at its UK plants in Halewood and Solihull, as well as its Wolverhampton engine facility. The disruption is also affecting production facilities in Slovakia, China, and India. The cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover highlights the growing threat of cybercrime to critical infrastructure, including manufacturing and transportation systems. "Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and companies need to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively," said Dr. Emma Wilson, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Oxford. Jaguar Land Rover's shutdown is the latest example of a major company falling victim to a cyber attack. In 2017, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) was hit by a ransomware attack that disrupted services across England and Wales. The current status of Jaguar Land Rover's operations remains uncertain, with the company refusing to comment on reports that disruption could continue for several weeks. As the situation unfolds, industry experts are closely watching the response of the carmaker and its partners to the cyber attack. Background Jaguar Land Rover has faced challenges in recent years, including declining sales and increased competition from electric vehicle manufacturers. The company has been investing heavily in digital transformation, including the development of new technologies such as autonomous driving and connected vehicles. The UK's automotive industry is a significant contributor to the country's economy, with Jaguar Land Rover employing thousands of workers across its UK operations. The shutdown of its plants due to the cyber attack will have far-reaching implications for the company's supply chain and production schedule. Next Developments As Jaguar Land Rover continues to work on resolving the issue, industry experts are closely watching the situation to see how the company responds to the cyber attack. "The key is to learn from this experience and implement robust cybersecurity measures to prevent similar incidents in the future," said Dr. Wilson. In the meantime, customers who have booked vehicles for delivery will be kept informed of any changes to production schedules. The company has not commented on whether it will offer compensation or support to affected customers. The shutdown of Jaguar Land Rover's plants due to a cyber attack serves as a reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in critical infrastructure. As the situation unfolds, industry experts will be closely watching the response of the company and its partners to mitigate the impact of the attack. *Reporting by Bbc.*