Where was the car you drive made? Understanding the VIN code

In the article that we will talk about today, we will locate on a map the different factories that produce the various cars currently for sale.

We are going to warn you that there is a possibility that you will fall for a myth more than once, but that is just how life is.

To get warmed up, it is essential to be aware that most automobile brands have terminals in different parts of the world.

The following question naturally arises from this premise: “Where does my car come from?” Is it accurate to say that Audis are manufactured in Germany?

A claim that one drives a car manufactured in Germany or Italy might not be accurate.

As was previously mentioned, the brands are sold worldwide in various locations that serve as their points of manufacture.

As a result, it is simple to be misled into believing that the product’s quality will suffer if they are not produced in its country of origin.

In the name of Motorbli, we would like to ask for calm and make it abundantly clear that the brands have established quality standards that must be adhered to in all their factories (only differ depending on the market as opposed to the product’s country of origin).

Therefore, all vehicles produced by a brand, irrespective of the country in which they were built, possess and are obligated to comply with the specified minimum level of quality standardization.

The vehicle identification number is also known as the VIN or NIV code.

The Vehicle Identification Number, also known as the NIV code, is the equivalent of a Spanish citizen’s DNI in that it gives us the essential information required to determine the origin of our vehicle.

To accomplish this, we must choose which country the designation or series in question represents.

Every make and model has a label that displays the vehicle identification number (VIN code).

However, where exactly is it situated? If you are looking at it from the outside, it is located in the bottom right corner of the windshield; however, if you are unable to find it, it is also possible that it is on the frame of the driver’s door or the edge of the rear frame under the hood.

Seventeen different characters make up the VIN code.

That identifies various things, including the vehicle’s characteristics, the factory code, the year and model, and the country of origin, among other things.

In this context, the beginning of the numerical series can be used to determine the country from which the vehicle originated.

The following is a list of the most significant territories, organized by continent:

• America
• Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• Oceania

So, where did they manufacture my car precisely?

Next, putting the countries of origin of the vehicles to one side, we will do our best to determine where your car was manufactured.

You must be aware that automobile manufacturing is a highly globalized industry.

This indicates that large multinational corporations have operations and business interests in every market on the entire planet.

Why do the various brands and groups have manufacturing points dispersed across the world’s continents, as was mentioned at the outset of this article?

To produce locally and, as a result, save money by avoiding costly tariffs and other fees.

Consequently, brands with a greater capacity for commercial expansion will adapt their vehicle ranges to the market in which they compete.

To put it another way, the significant manufacturers propose models that are adaptable to the market based on the preferences of the population as well as the purchasing power of the people.

The large groups that control the majority of the automotive industry are all governed by the same industrial planning: the production of a model in one factory or another depends (not including marketing) on workloads, production costs, the platform that is used, and the planning of the same thing.

And how does one put this into practice? To put it.

Models that are either simpler to produce or smaller in size, which contribute to a lower profit margin per sale, are the ones that are most likely to be manufactured in countries with lower production costs (labor).

“Country of manufacture” and “Country of origin” are not synonymous.

As we can see, there is no direct relationship between the country of origin of the brand and the country in which the vehicle is manufactured.

This is because, according to the industrial and economic logic of the market, there is no connection between the two.

Let’s look at some data to see if what we’ve been arguing is true: there does not have to be a direct relationship between the two.

Where are some of the best-known automobile brands’ production facilities located in the world?

Now has arrived that moment that we have all been anticipating: “the moment when you know where your car was manufactured” (when you know where your car was manufactured).

You’ll most likely be in for one or two surprises, but as mentioned at the article’s beginning, life is full of unexpected turns and twists.

Let’s look at the origin of our automobiles, which will almost certainly result in debunking some urban legend or another.

Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz

The main course, which consists of German brands, comes first.

Products made in Germany have a reputation for being of a higher caliber than those made in other countries because of the elitist aura that surrounds them.

However, many of them may believe this to be true because most cars with German brand names are currently manufactured in other countries that are not considered to have as much “prestige.”

It is the case with all Audi A1s; you should be aware that if you drive an Audi A1, you are driving a Belgian car; a Hungarian car if you have between hands TT; or a Catalan car (Martorell) if it is a Q3. If you drive an Audi A1, you should know that.

Let’s look at another German giant like BMW, for example.

We can see how the company justifies its Germanic origin by pointing out that most of its products come from Munich, Dingolfing, Leipzig, and Regensburg.

However, most drivers are unaware that BMW X series vehicles (except the X1) are produced in Spartanburg, in the United States.

When it comes to Mercedes-Benz, a situation very similar to the one described above occurs: in general, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have very similar approaches to the planning and management of their industrial operations; as a result, it is not at all surprising to come across several models, such as the GLE and GLS, that are manufactured in the United States.

You should be aware that if we use a B-class or a CLA as our vehicle of choice, you will be driving a car manufactured in Hungary.

In addition, G-class automobiles are manufactured in Austria, and A-class automobiles, which are in high demand, can be shipped from Uusikaupunki (Finland).

In a nutshell, the major German brands and powers are not German if objective standards determine their value.

This may lead us to the conclusion that the origin of a car, regardless of its range, is determined by the cost of producing the vehicle.

Opel, Ford, Volkswagen, and Seat

If we shift our focus to a more general perspective, we can see that Ford, despite being a “purebred” American brand, has dispersed the production of its units across the entire length and breadth of the globe. The Ford Ka is manufactured in Poland, the Ford Ka+ is manufactured in India, the Fiesta, Focus, and C-Max come from Germany, and the B-Max and EcoSport are manufactured in Romania.

The Kuga, Mondeo, S-Max, and Galaxy come from the factory in Valencia (Spain). The other models are distributed around the world.

However, there is no need to be concerned because the legendary Ford Mustang will never stop being 100% made in the United States of America, as this country is responsible for both its inception and its production.

It would appear that the Volkswagen group is fond of Latin flavors (and who does not).

We say this because two of Volkswagen’s most illustrious automobiles are produced in Spain and Mexico: all Volkswagen Polos are built in Pamplona, which is located in Spain; Volkswagen Beetles, on the other hand, are made in Mexico; and Volkswagen Amaroks originate in Argentina.

The Sharan and the Scirocco are manufactured in a factory south of Lisbon, so their place of origin is relatively close to the Iberian Peninsula.

The remaining ships in the fleet have a German heritage.

The Seat factory in Martorell, located in Spain, is one of the most talked-about factories for the company’s future.

Those four walls are home to the assembly lines that produce the highest-volume models like the Ibiza and the Leon.

However, the remainder of the vehicles sold under the Hispanic brand is manufactured in the Czech Republic (the Toledo and the Ateca), Slovakia (the Mii, the Up, and the Citigo), and Portugal (the Alhambra).

In conclusion, we investigate whether or not the German generalist brand Opel lives up to its reputation as the industry leader. Of course not.

Opel’s dealerships are stocked with automobiles manufactured in a variety of countries: Spain, with models such as the Meriva and the Mokka X (Figueras); Korea, with models such as the Karl; Poland, with models such as the Astra and Cambrian; and even Italy, with the Opel Combo commercial vehicle, which shares a factory with the Fiat Dobló.

The fact that the remaining models, such as the Corsa, Zafira, and Insignia, are produced in German factories is an argument in their favor, according to us.

The automobile manufacturers Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo

Renault is yet another one of those brands that enjoy going to different countries.

The adorable Twingo was manufactured in Slovenia, whereas the SW version of the Clio was produced in Turkey (on the same assembly line as the Mégane SW and the Sedan).

The Renault Captur, the Renault Mégane 5 doors, and the Renault Kadjar trace their roots back to Spain.

Citroen is not far behind, as we can see, and French brands are eager to spread patriotism to all four corners of the world.

The Citroen C1 is manufactured in the Czech Republic, Solvaco manufactures the Citroen C3 Picasso, the Citroen C4 Picasso, and the Berlingo are manufactured in Galicia (Spain), the Citroen C4 Cactus is manufactured in Madrid, and the Mitsubishi C4 Aircross is manufactured in Mizushima.

As a direct consequence, France is the only country in which Citroen’s top brand, the DS, and some of the company’s generalist models, including the C3, C4, C5, and the e-Mehari, are manufactured.

On the other hand, Peugeot is not as open to the rest of the world because only a few of its models are produced in countries other than France.

One example is the 108, made in the Czech Republic, and some 208 models (Slovakia).

In the end, we leave the most faithful to their territory. All Alfa Romeo vehicles and Lamborghini and Ferrari automobiles are manufactured in Italy.

Even though Fiat is a brand with a solid connection to its home country, the Fiat 500 is built in a factory in Poland rather than Italy, where the brand was initially founded.

This is a remarkable fact because, as we have seen up to this point, all brands produce the model most representative of their company in the country where the manufacturer is based.

Fiat manufactures at least two of its most popular models in Italy, the Punto and the Panda, to preserve the country’s furniture industry.

Nissan, Toyota, KIA, Hyundai, and Honda

Owners of Mazda, Lexus, Subaru, or Mitsubishi automobiles are the only ones who can truthfully claim to have a vehicle that is manufactured entirely in Japan or Korea.

All competing brands are scouring the globe in search of suitable locations to manufacture their products at the lowest possible cost.

In Sunderland, Great Britain, the Asian giant Nissan produces the Note, Juke, Qashqai, and Leaf.

In Barcelona, Nissan produces the Pulsar, NV 200, and Navara. Micra is made in India.

That being the case, Nissan is just as Japanese as Ford is American.

Despite everything, the luxury brand Infiniti, a company subsidiary, manufactures all its vehicles in Japan.

However, there is no need to get worked up about it because both Toyota and KIA operate similarly to Nissan.

Toyota Aygo, Yaris, and Auris are all manufactured in the Czech Republic, France, and the United Kingdom.

The brand’s newest and most successful model, the Toyota CH-R, is also produced in the United Kingdom.

The Prius, the Rav4, and the Land Cruiser are the only models from the manufacturer’s home country.

Kia is a Korean automaker; many of its models are designed and manufactured in Korea.

However, Slovakian models are the most well-known and have the most significant market projection.

The Kia Ceed and the Kia Sportage are produced in Zilina, which is located in Slovakia (Slovakia).

The situation with the Hyundai brand, which only imports the i10 and i20 models produced at its plant in Turkey and the Tucson model made in Slovakia, is more balanced.

The ix20 and the i30 are manufactured in the Czech Republic, whereas the remaining models (the Ioniq, the i40, Santa Fe, Picanto, Rio, Carens, Optima, Niro, and Sorento) are produced in Korea.

In conclusion, the Honda Jazz is the only model of the Honda brand manufactured in Japan.

The Honda Civic and CR-V are produced in Great Britain, and the Honda HR-V is made in Mexico.

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