Jaguar Land Rover's month-long cyberattack crisis has forced key European suppliers to halt production, with the ripple effect spreading across the automotive industry's supply chain.
German exhaust manufacturer, Eberspächer, has suspended operations at its Slovakian plant in Nitra following the digital assault on JLR. The firm's 30 employees are now on reduced hours, earning 80% of their usual wages whilst production remains frozen.
"Since the cyberattack, production in our plant is also on hold," confirmed Eberspächer spokesperson, Anja Kaufer. The German company supplies JLR's Nitra facility, which produces 130 000 Discovery and Defender SUVs annually and employs 4 000 people.
JLR has extended its shutdown until 24 September, with industry estimates suggesting the closure is costing millions weekly. The British carmaker warned that some internal data may have been compromised during the breach, though customer information appears secure.
Quality assurance firm, Hollen, has also implemented restrictions owing to the JLR shutdown. Chief Executive, Tomas Osusky, warned of growing anxiety among suppliers: "Several subcontractors have had to significantly scale back production depending on how strongly they are tied to Jaguar."
The cyberattack prompted JLR to disconnect systems across facilities in the UK, China, Slovakia and India, highlighting the interconnected nature of modern automotive manufacturing. The incident demonstrates how a single digital breach can cascade through entire supply networks.
"We are continuously working to restore our global applications in a controlled and secure manner," said JLR's Slovakian spokesperson, Katarina Chlebova.
The automotive sector has become an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals, who recognise that disrupting one major manufacturer can simultaneously paralyse dozens of suppliers. Just-in-time production methods, designed for efficiency, paradoxically amplify the impact when digital systems fail.
As forensic investigations continue, the JLR crisis serves as a stark warning about the vulnerabilities inherent in today's hyper-connected manufacturing landscape. For suppliers across Europe, the waiting game continues as they hope for swift resolution before lasting damage occurs to longstanding partnerships.
The incident underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures throughout the automotive supply chain, where digital threats can translate into very real economic consequences for entire industrial ecosystems.
Within the vehicle retail sector, there are meaningful career opportunities for young people who are interested in sales, customer engagement, administration and dealership operations.
Housed in the upmarket, safe and centrally located Ballito Business Park in Moffat Drive, the location is in the heart of the Ballito retail trading business precinct amongst many already established OEM brands.
SVI Engineering, specialist manufacturer of armoured products in South Africa, has released a series of Transformer-inspired videos via its social media channels, highlighting how the company leverages its extensive expertise in the military and security fields to deliver civilian protection.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
SVI Engineering, specialist manufacturer of armoured products in South Africa, has released a series of Transformer-inspired videos via its social media channels, highlighting how the company leverages its extensive expertise in the military and security fields to deliver civilian protection.
The new car buying trend has continued unabated into the new year, with January figures reflecting a 7.5% increase in total vehicle sales and passenger car volumes rising by 7.1%.
The positive momentum of new vehicle sales in 2025 seems set to continue in 2026, with January building on the previous year’s success, says the Automotive Business Council (naamsa).
