JLR extends shutdown after cyber attack

(Sharecast News) - Car maker Jaguar Land Rover has extended its production shutdown by a week in response to a recent cyber attack.

In a statement, the company said it had taken the decision "as our forensic investigation of the cyber incident continues, and as we consider the different stages of the controlled restart of our global operations, which will take time".

JLR's production lines have already been stopped for two weeks, since manufacturing and retailing activities were "severely disrupted" by a cyber incident which affected 'some' of its data and forced it to send workers home.

Factories in the Midlands, Merseyside and abroad remain closed, and suppliers have also been disrupted, with some unable to access systems used for sourcing spare parts or registering vehicles.

Retail sales and service operations, however, continue to function normally.

The hacking group known as Scattered Spider had claimed responsibility for the incident, posting screenshots purporting to show JLR's internal IT systems.

The group was previously linked to cyberattacks on UK retailers including Marks & Spencer.

Four people were arrested earlier this year in related attacks.

The breach marked one of the most serious cyber incidents faced by the Tata-owned manufacturer in recent years, with analysts warning that the financial and operational costs could be significant if systems remained offline for weeks.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com