LI Jaguar Land Rover dealers could see lower inventory later this year as U.K. automaker remains shut down

Jaguar Land Rover dealerships on Long Island said inventory for the luxury vehicles could shrink following a nearly monthlong shutdown of the European automaker’s factory operations.

The automaker, owned by Tata Motors of India, shut down its manufacturing operations in the United Kingdom on Aug. 31 after a cyberattack compromised its systems. The company, which employs more than 30,000 people, has not provided details on the specifics of the attack, according to The Associated Press.

The company announced Tuesday the shutdown in its factory operations would be extended until Oct. 1 from its original Wednesday target date, AP reported.

On Long Island, where Jaguar Land Rover has four dealerships, the shutdown has impacted clerical tasks and communication with the manufacturer, said Michael Levitan, president of JLR Long Island, the company that owns dealerships in Huntington, Glen Cove and Southampton.

Levitan's dealerships have had to rely on "manual processes" and less on computers for certain functions, like submitting sales data to Jaguar Land Rover, in light of the cyberattack, he said. The manufacturer has given "dealers a significant amount of workarounds in order for us to continue to operate effectively," Levitan said.

Although his dealerships are well-stocked, Levitan said, with the disruption to manufacturing and lead times, it's likely that supply will shrink at least slightly.

"As we approach probably the end of the year, inventory might tighten up a little bit," Levitan said. "The good news, from what we all understand, is that the inventory will come.

A fourth Island dealership, in Freeport, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a statement emailed to Newsday, the European automaker said it bumped its restart day back a week to make for a smoother transition.

"Today we have informed colleagues, suppliers and partners that we have extended the current pause in production," the company said. "We have made this decision to give clarity for the coming week as we build the timeline for the phased restart of our operations and continue our investigation."

The company said it had been working with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement during the shutdown.

"Our focus remains on supporting our customers, suppliers, colleagues, and our retailers who remain open," the company said. "We fully [recognize] this is a difficult time for all connected with JLR."