A devastating cyberattack has crippled Jaguar Land Rover for three weeks, forcing the closure of all factories in the UK, Slovakia, Brazil, and India. The hack, discovered in late August, has left Britain's largest automotive employer unable to produce vehicles, potentially costing hundreds of millions of pounds.
The attack exposed vulnerabilities in JLR's interconnected "smart factory" systems, managed by outsourcing giant Tata Consultancy Services under an £800m contract. When hackers breached the network, JLR couldn't isolate affected systems and was forced to shut down everything.
The crisis threatens JLR's entire supply chain of 700+ companies across the West Midlands. Workers remain furloughed with no clear restart date, while suppliers face potential bankruptcy. The government is providing daily support and considering financial aid for struggling suppliers as the automotive industry braces for a prolonged shutdown.
Source: The Guardian