The Cyber Slump: JLR Sales Crater After “Costliest Hack in UK History”

Jaguar Land Rover has disclosed its wholesale and retail performance metrics for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, which concluded on December 31, 2025. The findings depict a grueling period; automotive production only regained its equilibrium in mid-November following a disruptive cyber incursion, after which the company required further duration to disseminate finished vehicles across global markets. These variables exerted simultaneous downward pressure on dealer shipments and final consumer acquisitions.

The predicament was further exacerbated by strategic transformations within the brand. The manufacturer persisted with the scheduled phase-out of legacy Jaguar models in anticipation of the marque’s comprehensive relaunch. Concurrently, volumes were stifled by newly imposed import tariffs in the United States, which disproportionately affected JLR’s transatlantic shipments. Collectively, these factors precipitated a marked decline in performance both sequentially and on a year-over-year basis.

Wholesale distributions for the third quarter stood at 59,200 units, excluding the Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture in China. This represents a precipitous 43.3% decline compared to the previous year and a 10.6% contraction relative to the second quarter of the current fiscal year. Regionally, the downturn was ubiquitous. While the United Kingdom saw a marginal decrease of 0.9%, North America endured the most severe collapse at 64.4%. European markets contracted by 47.6%, China by 46.0%, and the Middle East and North Africa by 8.5%.

Simultaneously, the composition of wholesale deliveries shifted significantly toward high-margin luxury segments. The Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Defender accounted for a commanding 74.3% of all shipments this quarter, an increase from 70.3% in the prior year. Year-to-date, total wholesale volumes reached 212,600 vehicles, a 26.6% reduction compared to the preceding year’s cumulative figures.

Retail sales, incorporating the CJLR joint venture, totaled 79,600 units for the third quarter. This reflects a 25.1% annualized decline and a 6.7% sequential drop. Geographically, the contraction spared no territory: sales receded by 13.3% in the UK, 37.7% in North America, and 26.9% in Europe. China registered an 18.4% decline, while the Middle East and the rest of the world saw respective drops of 18.7% and 14.1%.

Ultimately, for the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, Jaguar Land Rover’s retail sales reached 259,400 vehicles. This 19.1% shortfall compared to the previous year’s results underscores the convergence of several adverse currents: the lingering aftermath of a cyberattack, the structural metamorphosis of the Jaguar portfolio, and stringent trade impediments across pivotal export corridors.