Jaguar Land Rover's UK Factories Remain Offline After Two-Week Cyber Attack

Jaguar Land Rover Plants Shut Until Next Week After Cyber Attack LONDON (Reuters) - Jaguar Land Rover's UK factories will remain closed until next week after the carmaker was hit by a cyber attack at the end of last month, resulting in two weeks of lost global production. The company shut down its IT networks to protect them from damage following the hack on September 1. However, this meant that its highly automated production lines had to be halted as well. The move has left dealerships unable to sell cars and garages struggling to obtain parts for Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. "We are working closely with our suppliers and partners to minimize the impact of the cyber attack," a company spokesperson said in a statement. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused to our customers and stakeholders." Jaguar Land Rover, which usually builds 1,000 cars per day, has not yet disclosed how many vehicles will be lost due to the shutdown. The company's IT systems are still being assessed to determine the extent of the damage. The cyber attack is believed to have compromised some data, but it is unclear who or what may have been affected. "We take the security and integrity of our data very seriously," a spokesperson said. "We are working with external experts to investigate the incident and ensure that our systems are secure." Jaguar Land Rover's shutdown has significant implications for the automotive industry, which is already facing supply chain disruptions due to Brexit and other factors. "The cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover highlights the vulnerability of modern manufacturing systems," said Dr. Emma Taylor, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Oxford. "As more and more factories become connected to the internet, they become increasingly susceptible to cyber threats." The shutdown has also raised concerns about the impact on customers who have ordered vehicles that are now delayed. "I was due to collect my new Land Rover next week, but now it looks like I'll be waiting even longer," said one frustrated customer. "I hope Jaguar Land Rover can get their systems back up and running soon." Jaguar Land Rover's UK factories will remain closed until Monday at the earliest, when production is expected to resume. The company has not yet announced a new target date for resuming full production. In the meantime, dealerships are working with customers to provide updates on delivery times and garages are finding alternative suppliers to meet demand. *Reporting by Bbc.*