Jaguar Land Rover has temporarily halted production at its Solihull plant due to a parts shortage from a supplier in Norway after a factory fire, with the pause expected to last around two weeks. Production of Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models at Solihull is paused until April 8, including a planned five-day Easter shutdown. A JLR spokesperson said the company is working closely with the supplier to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and minimize any impact on clients or operations. It remains unclear which specific supplier in Norway suffered the factory fire, what parts are in shortage, or how many vehicles are affected by the production pause. The expected financial impact of this temporary shutdown on JLR has not been disclosed, and the current status of the supplier's factory recovery in Norway is unknown.
This production halt compounds difficulties for JLR, which faced a significant cyber attack in August last year that directly cost the company £260 million in lost sales and expenses. According to researchers at the Cyber Monitoring Centre, the total economic cost of the JLR cyber attack on the UK economy has been estimated at £1.9 billion, making it the most damaging cyber event in UK history. The attack's broader impact underscores vulnerabilities in the automotive sector's supply chain and digital infrastructure.
JLR's total UK production fell by almost 22% in 2025, with 201,283 vehicles produced. This decline reflects ongoing operational and market challenges, including the recent cyber attack and supply chain disruptions. The production drop may signal broader issues within the UK automotive industry, which has faced headwinds from economic uncertainty and shifting consumer demands.
Leadership changes at JLR have also marked a period of transition, with PB Balaji taking over as the new boss from CEO Adrian Mardell in December. Within days of Balaji taking over, Gerry McGovern, JLR's former chief creative officer, left the company with immediate effect. In a statement to employees, McGovern announced that he will set up his own creative business. These shifts in top management come as JLR navigates production halts and financial setbacks, potentially signaling a strategic realignment under new leadership.