Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that production across its UK factories will remain suspended until at least the start of October, as the company continues to deal with the impact of a major cyber-attack that forced it to shut down IT systems last month.
The attack, which took place at the end of August, has halted vehicle production at JLR’s plants in Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton. The shutdown has now stretched into its fourth week, sparking concerns over the financial stability of smaller suppliers that rely heavily on the carmaker’s orders.
In a statement confirming the extension, JLR said: “Our focus remains on supporting our customers, suppliers, colleagues, and our retailers who remain open. We fully recognise this is a difficult time for all connected with JLR and we thank everyone for their continued support and patience.”
Sources previously indicated that disruption could last beyond October and possibly into November, though JLR has not set a firm date for restarting production.
The government is now stepping in to assess the situation. Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Industry Minister Chris McDonald are visiting the West Midlands on Tuesday to meet with JLR and affected supply chain firms. They are expected to hold discussions with company representatives, suppliers, and workers to understand the challenges being faced and explore possible support measures.
“We are acutely aware of the difficulties the stoppage is causing for those suppliers and their staff, many of whom are already taking a financial hit through no fault of their own,” McDonald said ahead of the visit. He added that the government was determined to help the sector recover and to “get production back online as swiftly as possible.”
The prolonged shutdown has underlined the vulnerability of automotive supply chains to cyber incidents, particularly for firms dependent on JLR’s high-volume contracts. Industry groups have warned that without targeted support, some smaller businesses could face insolvency if production does not resume soon.
JLR, which is owned by India’s Tata Motors, has not provided further details on the nature of the cyber-attack but has stressed that customer and employee data security remains a top priority. The company continues to operate its sales network, with dealerships open for customers, even as manufacturing lines remain idle.
The stoppage comes at a critical time for the UK’s automotive industry, which is balancing the transition toward electric vehicles with wider economic pressures, including supply chain disruptions and high energy costs.
For now, all eyes remain on whether JLR can resume operations by early October or if the shutdown will drag further into the autumn, deepening concerns for suppliers and workers across the West Midlands and beyond.
