Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was hit by a major cyberattack at the end of August, forcing the company to shut down its IT networks and halt vehicle production. The automaker has confirmed that manufacturing will not restart until at least October 1, leaving its factories silent for weeks.
According to reports, this shutdown is costing the company about $70 million every week in lost production. The impact has been so severe that some of JLR’s smaller suppliers are reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy.
Billions at Stake for the Automaker
Industry analysts estimate that if the company cannot resume production until November, the total financial hit could reach $4.7 billion. This potential loss is far higher than the $2.4 billion pre-tax profit JLR reported for the financial year ending March 2025.
The crisis has also shaken investor confidence. Shares of Tata Motors, JLR’s parent company, dropped by around 4 percent after news of the attack and the mounting financial impact. Making matters worse, JLR reportedly does not have cyberattack insurance, meaning the company must bear the entire cost on its own.
Hackers Claim Responsibility
A group calling itself Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack. This group has previously targeted major retailers in the U.K. earlier this year.
JLR, which employs more than 30,000 people and operates factories in the U.K., Slovakia, and India, admitted that hackers may have stolen company data during the breach. However, the automaker has not shared details about what kind of information might have been taken.
Trouble Beyond the Cyberattack
The attack comes at a difficult time for JLR. In the three months leading up to June 30, the company’s pre-tax profits dropped by 49 percent. This decline was largely caused by tariffs imposed on vehicles imported into the U.S. by then-President Donald Trump.
Unlike BMW or Mercedes-Benz, JLR has no manufacturing base in America. In April, the company even had to pause shipments to the U.S. while it worked out its response to the tariffs. Although a later trade deal reduced tariffs from 27.5 percent to 10 percent, the pause caused nearly $1 billion in lost revenue compared with the same period in 2024.
Delays to New Electric Models
On top of these financial setbacks, the company has also been forced to delay several electric vehicle launches.
The highly anticipated electric Range Rover, initially planned for late 2025, has now been pushed to early 2026. The Range Rover Velar EV, which was supposed to start production in April 2026, has also been delayed. Similarly, the electric Defender may not hit the market until 2027.
Jaguar’s bold new lineup is also facing setbacks. The production version of the Jaguar Type 00 concept, intended to relaunch the Jaguar brand, is now expected in August 2026. The second model in the redesigned electric Jaguar family is unlikely to arrive before early 2027.
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Final Thoughts
The cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover has not only disrupted its manufacturing but also threatens the company’s long-term financial stability. With billions of dollars in potential losses, shaken investor confidence, and a delayed electric future, the road ahead looks extremely challenging.
As the automaker works to recover from this unprecedented crisis, its ability to restart production and protect its data will play a critical role in shaping its future.
