Jaguar Land Rover has prolonged the suspension of its vehicle production until at least 1 October, following a cyber attack that has paralysed operations since the end of August.

The company, owned by Tata Motors, confirmed the extension as it continues to investigate the incident and work towards a phased restart of its factories in the UK and abroad.

The shutdown has affected JLR’s facilities in Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton, with more than 33,000 staff told to stay at home. The disruption has also rippled through the company’s supply chain, which supports over 100,000 jobs in Britain.

Many suppliers, some of whom rely on JLR as their primary customer, have been forced to halt production, lay off workers, or ask staff to apply for government support. According to the Unite trade union, “workers in the JLR supply chain are being laid off with reduced or zero pay,” and some have been told to “sign up” for government benefits.

JLR said in a statement: “We have made this decision to give clarity for the coming week as we build the timeline for the phased restart of our operations and continue our investigation. Our teams continue to work around the clock alongside cybersecurity specialists, the NCSC and law enforcement to ensure we restart in a safe and secure manner. Our focus remains on supporting our customers, suppliers, colleagues, and our retailers who remain open. We fully recognise this is a difficult time for all connected with JLR and we thank everyone for their continued support and patience”.

Government ministers have met with JLR and supply chain firms to discuss support measures. Business secretary Peter Kyle said: “We have two priorities, helping Jaguar Land Rover get back up and running as soon as possible and the long-term health of the supply chain. We are acutely aware of the difficulties the stoppage is causing for those suppliers and their staff, many of whom are already taking a financial hit through no fault of their own – and we will do everything we can to reassure them that the government is on their side.”

The attack has raised questions about the resilience of UK industry to cyber threats, with experts warning that the scale of disruption is unprecedented. As JLR works to restore its systems, the wider automotive sector is bracing for further fallout.

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