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British carmaker giant Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has stopped production at its U.K. facilities following a serious cyberattack last week.
The shutdown affects assembly plants in Halewood and Solihull, as well as the Wolverhampton engine factory.
Thousands of employees have been instructed to remain at home, and factories are not expected to reopen before Thursday.
The production halt has also significantly affected vehicle sales and service operations. The disruption coincides with the start of the new license plate period on Sept. 1, a peak sales period for the company.
UK Business Minister Sir Chris Bryant told the House of Commons that the government is in daily contact with JLR and is monitoring the situation closely.
The National Cyber Security Centre has been providing support since the attack was detected.
Bryant also confirmed he would meet with JLR’s CEO later this week, and the Information Commissioner’s Office has been notified of the incident.
Scattered Spider may be responsible for the cyberattack, according to publicly reported claims, though Bryant did not confirm the perpetrators.
The group was previously linked to attacks on British retailers, including Marks & Spencer and Co-op, earlier this year.
Four people suspected of those attacks were arrested and later released on bail.
Essential suppliers such as Evtec, WH Plastics, Suretec, and Opmobility were also affected, highlighting the wider impact on the supply chain.
Bryant emphasized that the government is working to ensure these companies receive all necessary support.
National and local Members of Parliament have been invited to a Q&A session on Friday by JLR to address constituents’ concerns regarding the shutdown.
Labour MP Derek Twigg stressed the disruption to both workers and supply chain jobs, warning about potential long-term effects on the U.K. economy.
Efforts to resume operations continue around the clock as JLR works to restart production in a “controlled and safe manner.”
The company has apologized for the disruption and assured that retail partners remain open.
Monitoring and updates will continue as JLR provides ongoing information to the public and stakeholders, aiming to restore normal operations as soon as possible.
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