Prime Highlights:
- Jaguar Land Rover will resume production in the coming days, starting with the Wolverhampton engine plant.
- The UK government has announced £1.5 billion in loan guarantees to support JLR and its supply chain.
Key Facts:
- JLR directly employs around 30,000 people, with another 100,000 working across its supplier network.
- The phased restart ensures IT systems are restored safely and securely after the cyber-attack.
Key Background:
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that it will resume some manufacturing operations in the coming days after a cyber-attack forced the carmaker to suspend production across its UK plants. Operations at the company’s three facilities in the West Midlands and Merseyside were halted on 1 September following the attack, causing significant disruption to the automotive supply chain.
Manufacturing is expected to restart first at the Wolverhampton engine facility on 6 October, with other plants following a phased schedule. Industry sources suggest it may take several weeks before production lines are fully operational. In a note to staff, JLR emphasized that the phased restart is intended to ensure IT systems are restored safely and securely, with recovery work already underway.
The company has been working around the clock with cybersecurity specialists, the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre, and law enforcement agencies to safeguard operations. A JLR spokesperson thanked employees, suppliers, and partners for their patience and support during the recovery.
The production halt put big pressure on JLR’s supply chain, especially smaller suppliers, some of which were at risk of going out of business. To help, the government announced £1.5 billion in loan guarantees for JLR and its suppliers. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the funding would protect jobs and ensure cash flow for businesses that work directly with JLR.
Downing Street welcomed the news, saying the phased restart is a positive step for both workers and the wider supply chain. JLR employs around 30,000 people in its UK plants and another 100,000 across its supplier network. The company is one of several in the UK affected by cyber-attacks this year.
The recovery shows a cautious but encouraging step forward for the automotive industry, giving employees, suppliers, and investors confidence that operations are slowly returning to normal.