Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by India’s Tata Motors, has suffered a major cyberattack that severely disrupted vehicle production at its Halewood and Solihull plants in the UK. The incident also impacted retail operations during a peak period for new vehicle deliveries. However, the company stated there is no evidence that customer data was compromised.
The attack began on Sunday, just ahead of the release of new registration plates on 1 September. It was detected in progress, prompting JLR to shut down its IT systems to contain the damage. Staff at both plants were instructed not to report to work, with many sent home.
JLR said it acted swiftly to mitigate the impact and is working to restore global systems in a controlled manner. While the company’s public statement avoided the term “cyberattack,” Tata Motors confirmed an “IT security incidence” affecting global operations in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The National Crime Agency is investigating the incident in collaboration with other partners. The breach follows similar attacks on UK retailers like Marks & Spencer and the Co-op, where hackers attempted extortion.
In 2023, JLR signed a £800 million five-year deal with Tata Consultancy Services to enhance cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. The production halt adds pressure to the company, which recently reported declining profits due to rising costs linked to US tariffs.
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