(MENAFN) It was a Monday, and demand was expected to spike with the release of new 75 series number plates. At production sites in Solihull and Halewood, as well as the engine plant in Wolverhampton, staff anticipated a busy day.

Instead, the early shift was sent home. Production lines have remained idle since, following a major cyber attack that hit JLR at the end of August.

Operations are expected to restart slowly and cautiously in the coming days, but a full return to normal output could take up to a month. The attack resulted in significant disruption, with more than a month of global production lost.

The company is working with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to investigate, but the financial impact is already severe. Analysts estimate losses at £50 million per week.

Despite earning £2.5 billion in profit last financial year and being owned by Tata Group, the losses remain substantial. However, JLR is far from alone.

This year has seen a wave of cyber attacks on major UK businesses. Targets have included retailers like Marks & Spencer and the Co-op, and a key airport systems provider. Other high-profile victims include the nursery chain Kido. In previous years, incidents involving Southern Water and a company responsible for NHS blood testing have raised alarm over vulnerabilities in vital infrastructure and services.

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