Photo: Richard Martin-Roberts / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), a major UK-based automaker owned by Tata Motors of India, announced on Tuesday (September 2) that a cyberattack has severely disrupted its retail and production operations. The company took immediate action by proactively shutting down its systems to mitigate the impact of the ransomware attack. JLR stated there is no evidence that customer data has been stolen, and efforts are underway to restart global applications in a controlled manner.
The cyber incident has affected JLR's manufacturing and retail activities, forcing the company to halt operations at multiple sites. Workers at the Halewood plant in Merseyside were instructed not to report to work due to the incident, according to a report by The Guardian. The attack's severity is underscored by the speed of JLR's response, indicating a significant threat to their operational systems, as noted by cybersecurity experts.
Shares of Tata Motors fell by 0.9% in Mumbai following the disclosure of the cyber incident. The automaker is working diligently to resolve global IT issues impacting its business. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has been contacted for comment, but further details about the attackers or the recovery timeline have not been disclosed.
This attack is part of a broader trend of increasing cyber threats faced by companies worldwide. Similar incidents have recently affected other industries, including insurance and retail, highlighting the growing sophistication of cybercriminals. As JLR navigates the aftermath of the cyberattack, it also grapples with declining profits and delays in launching new electric vehicle models.