Experts are calling on major car brands to ensure their systems are properly protected following the latest cyber attack, which impacted automaker Renault, who could be planning to cut thousands of jobs.
Renault informed customers earlier this week that it had been the victim of a cyber attack, which resulted in some personal data being taken from its systems.
The issue stems from one of Renault Group UK's third-party data processing providers, which confirmed that it was an isolated incident which had been "contained".
While no financial or password data has been compromised, some data has been, namely customer names, addresses, dates of birth, gender, phone numbers, vehicle identification numbers and vehicle registration details.
Renault and Dacia customers will be contacted if they are affected by the cyber attack, with Renault Group reminding drivers to be cautious of "any unsolicited requests for personal information".
Lauren Wills-Dixon, head of data privacy at law firm Gordons, said the primary purpose of the cyber attack against Renault was to "access the personal data of its customers and cause wider business disruption".
She added: "Throughout 2025, we have seen multiple security incidents caused by malicious actors take place.
"This is yet another reminder of the need for stringent security measures required in a world where cyber attacks are increasingly common, both for small and large businesses.
Renault and Dacia owners could be affected by the cyber attack
|RENAULT/DACIA
"It is not a question of 'if' but 'when' businesses are targeted by bad actors, and preventative measures should be taken alongside business continuity, disaster recovery and breach plans."
Ms Willis-Dixon highlighted that all major companies should have a "breach response plan", in addition to clear policies and staff procedures to recognise security issues before they escalate.
Renault is not the only automaker to be impacted by a cyber attack in recent months, with Jaguar Land Rover being forced to shut down production at its key facilities for around a month.
The British brand said it was working alongside the Government's National Cyber Security Centre to ensure its phased restart of operations is conducted in a safe and secure manner.
Francois Provost became CEO of Renault Group in August
|REUTERS
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It comes as reports warn that Renault Group is planning to cut up to 3,000 jobs across its brands, according to French outlet L'Informe.
The website is reporting that 3,000 jobs will be removed, with Renault's Boulogne-Billancourt headquarters allegedly being affected.
It added that Francois Provost, who was appointed CEO of Renault Group at the start of August, wants to reduce fixed costs with L'Informe describing it as a "drastic plan".
Citing Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg reported that the job cuts would cut certain departments, including human resources, finance and marketing, by 15 per cent.
Renault previously issued a price warning following H1 results
|RENAULT
Renault previously issued a profit warning in July following disappointing results in the first six months of the year, prompting its share price to fall 17 per cent.
Speaking at the time of the profit warning, Provost said: "As I step into the role of CEO, I am convinced that Renault Group has all the fundamentals to succeed: committed teams, a robust product plan, a clear brands’ positioning, and an innovative organisation.
"Our first-half results, in a challenging market, were not aligned with our initial ambitions. We have already launched a set of countermeasures to deliver our targets."
GB News has contacted Renault for a comment on the reports.