Credited from: REUTERS
The UK government has pledged a loan guarantee of up to £1.5 billion ($2 billion) for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to support the automotive supplier network following a significant cyberattack that halted the carmaker's production. Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the cyberattack as "not only an assault on an iconic British brand, but on our world-leading automotive sector," emphasizing the urgent need for this financial backing to stabilize operations and protect skilled jobs in the UK, particularly in areas like the West Midlands and Merseyside, where JLR has a strong presence, according to Reuters and BBC.
Due to the cyberattack that began on August 31, production was halted across JLR's three major UK factories, impacting around 30,000 employees directly and putting many suppliers at risk of financial collapse. A parliamentary committee highlighted that some suppliers have faced imminent cash shortages, with reports indicating that operations could be costing JLR at least £50 million per week during this downtime. Revisiting the financial support details, the loan is set to be privately financed, backed by the UK Export Finance agency and intended to clear the backlog of payments owed to suppliers, according to India Times and BBC.
As part of the recovery efforts following the cyber disruption, JLR announced it would begin a "phased restart" of some manufacturing operations, though full production is expected to remain suspended until October. The company continues to work with cybersecurity specialists alongside governmental support to ensure a secure and efficient recovery process. A JLR spokesperson noted ongoing efforts to provide updates as the situation develops, which is critical given the heavy reliance of their supply chain on swift resolution of these operational challenges, as detailed by BBC and India Times.