UK car production fell by 27% in September, with just over 51,000 vehicles manufactured – the lowest September output in seven decades, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The dramatic decline comes after JLR was forced to completely halt production at all three of its UK plants following a cyber-attack that crippled its IT systems.
The severity of the incident becomes clear when considering that JLR – the UK's second-largest car producer by volume after Nissan – did not produce a single vehicle during September. The manufacturer's facilities in Solihull, Wolverhampton and Halewood remained offline throughout the month as the company dealt with the fallout from what has been described as the most economically damaging cyber event in British history.
Research published by the Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC) estimates the attack will cost £1.9 billion, with approximately 5,000 businesses affected by the disruption. The ripple effects extend far beyond JLR itself, impacting the wider automotive supply chain and related industries.
Perhaps most concerning for the sector is the CMC's assessment that full recovery will not occur until January 2026 – more than a year after the initial attack. This extended timeline highlights the severe and lasting impact cyber-attacks can have on modern manufacturing operations.
The SMMT was quick to point out that the cyber-attack was largely responsible for September's poor figures, with other manufacturers reporting stable production numbers for the month. Total vehicle production, which includes commercial vehicles, slumped by 35.9% compared to the previous year, falling to approximately 54,300 units.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes commented: "September's performance comes as no surprise given the total loss of production at Britain's biggest automotive employer following a cyber incident. While the situation has improved, the sector remains under immense pressure."
The disruption significantly impacted the UK's automotive export performance, with overseas shipments down 24.5% in September. The EU, US, Turkey, Japan and South Korea remain the top five export destinations for British-made vehicles. Year-to-date figures show UK car and van factories have produced 582,250 vehicles – 15.2% lower than the same period in 2024.
JLR has confirmed that production is returning across its sites in a phased approach. Autotrader's chief commercial officer Ian Plummer described the five-week shutdown as a "severe, but short-term issue" for the industry, drawing parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
"It'll be a bit like Covid, where after the shutdown and delays end, there's a surge in demand and sales," Plummer said, noting that JLR brands have risen to have the highest number of monthly sales leads on Autotrader's platform, demonstrating continued consumer interest despite the supply constraints.
The incident has intensified calls for government intervention to support the automotive sector. Hawes warned that the government's recent ambition to foster a resurgence in domestic car production to 1.3 million vehicles annually is under threat if Chancellor Rachel Reeves proceeds with plans to end tax breaks for Employee Car Ownership Schemes (ECOS).
"The industry is calling for rapid interventions to shore up its competitiveness," Hawes stated, arguing that maintaining manufacturers' ECOS schemes would provide "immediate relief" and calling for programmes to bolster supply chain resilience.
The September figures serve as a stark reminder of the automotive industry's vulnerability to cyber threats and the cascading effects such incidents can have on national manufacturing output. As JLR works towards full recovery, the incident underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures in an increasingly digitised manufacturing landscape.
Tagged with: JLR cyber attack, UK car production, SMMT data, OE tyre fitments, automotive exports, supply chain resilience, ECOS changes, phased restart, Solihull plant, Wolverhampton engine works
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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