How JLR cyber attack affected car production in the UK
What's the story
The UK's new car production witnessed a staggering 24% drop last month, following a major cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The incident disrupted all of JLR's operations and halted car manufacturing. The attack occurred on August 31, forcing the company to suspend production the next day. It wasn't until mid-October that all production lines were fully operational again.
Production halt
Cyber attack's impact on JLR's production
The cyber attack had a significant effect on JLR's production capacity. The company's Range Rover factory in Solihull and the Halewood plant, where the Evoque and Discovery Sport are manufactured, operated well below their usual capacity during this period. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car production stood at just 59,010 units in October, a decrease of 18,474 units from last year's figures for the same month.
Sales impact
JLR's global sales and UK production figures
While JLR doesn't disclose monthly production figures for each factory, it did report combined global sales of roughly 53,000 units for its UK-built models in the three months prior to the cyber attack. So far this year, the UK has produced 602,109 cars, down from just over 670,000 at this point last year. SMMT chief Mike Hawes acknowledged that it was "another difficult month for UK vehicle production as the impact of the earlier cyber attack continued to be felt."
Market outlook
Future growth for UK car production
Despite the current challenges, Hawes remains optimistic about future growth. He pointed to the government's industrial strategy and a new £1.5 billion automotive innovation fund as indicators that the sector is "a pillar of national strategic importance."