JLR, owned by India-based Tata Motors, extended production stoppages until October following the cyberattack. The company’s three factories produce around 1,000 vehicles per day and support thousands of jobs in the Birmingham area. Some small suppliers reported that their cash reserves would only last about a week.
A survey conducted by the Black Country, Greater Birmingham, Coventry, and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce covered 84 businesses representing approximately 30,000 employees. More than two-thirds of respondents reported being negatively impacted by the cyberattack. Of these, 45% experienced significant financial effects including revenue losses or higher costs, 35% reduced staff working hours, and 14% carried out layoffs.
Among the surveyed firms, 79% were part of JLR’s supply chain, while 18% were not directly involved but still experienced knock-on effects. Sarah Moorhouse, CEO of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Black Country’s automotive supply chain employs 13,000 people, so the ripple effects of this cyberattack are being felt across our entire business community.” She added, “This isn’t just about JLR; it concerns the suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers that make the West Midlands the hub of UK automotive production.” More than half of the businesses surveyed said they wanted to see a financial support package.
Source: Reuters
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