The VIN number tells the car's origin.
Peugeot 208, is currently produced at no less than three different European factories. I check VIN numbers on new cars in Norway and find out that they are manufactured in Slovakia. Previously, 208 was taken in from one of the French factories.
Can it be profitable to produce the same car brand at several factories within small Europe?
Take for example Opel Astra. Norway receives cars from the Ellesmere plant, UK, which produces Vauxhalls for the British. On Finn.no, I found a parallel-imported Astra that was produced at a brand new Opel factory in Gliwice, Poland. They produce for the German market. If I could choose, I would choose the same factory that supplies cars to the Germans. Few customers are more critical than In .
The Nissan Leaf is another car model that is imported to Norway from the UK. But many cars are brought in from the USA as parallel imports. I checked a few of them and they are all made in the USA. Nissan in Mexico also produces the Leaf. I don't rule out that Mexican Leafs can find their way here. It may not matter that much, but it's nice to know.
Old prejudices do not apply.
Former East Bloc countries have completely different conditions for the car industry today than in the seventies. Here you will now find the newest factories in Europe. Maybe the best. China is on the rise as a car nation. Forget the domestic models, - scrap we are unlikely to see in Europe. But did you know that Geely's brand new Volvo factory in Chengdu, China produces the S60 for export, including to the US? These cars are hardly inferior to those produced in Europe. The Swedes at the factory take care of that. But be aware that no one will ever inform us that the Volvo in the showroom is made in China.
The truth can be found in the car's VIN number.
Here you can see where new cars are manufactured
The list of production locations is compiled by analyzing the VIN number of the latest cars for sale on Finn.no. Cars from both dealers and parallel imports have been selected. The purpose is to show where Norwegian cars originate from.
Giulietta – Cassino, Italy
Giulia – Cassino, Italy
Audi
A1 1st generation – Brussels, Belgium
A1 after 2019 – Martorell, Barcelona, Spain
A3 – Ingolstadt, Germany
A4 – Ingolstadt, Germany
A4 Allroad – Ingolstadt, Germany
A5 – Ingolstadt, Germany
A6 – Neckarsulm, Germany
A6 Allroad – Neckarsulm, Germany
A7 – Neckarsulm, Germany
A8 – Neckarsulm, Germany
Q2 – Ingolstadt, Germany
Q3 – Martorell, Barcelona, Spain
Q5 – Ingolstadt, Germany
Q7 – Bratislava, Slovakia
R8 – Neckarsulm, Germany
e-tron (electric car) – Brussels, Belgium
BMW (updated as of 07.02.2019)
I3 – Leipzig, Germany
I8 – Leipzig, Germany
X1 – Nedcar, Born, Netherlands
X2 – Regensburg, Germany
X3 – Rosslyn, South Africa
X4 – Spartanburg, USA
X5 – Spartanburg, USA
X6 – Greer, South Carolina, USA
1 Series – Leipzig, Germany
2 Series – Leipzig, Germany
Series 3 – Munich (A), Germany
3 Series Touring – Munich (K), Germany
5 Series – Munich, Germany
Citroen
C-Zero – Mizushima, Japan
C1 – Kolin, Czech Republic
C3 – Poissy, France
C3 Picasso – Trnava, Slovakia
C3 Aircross – Zaragoza, Spain
C4 – Mulhouse, France
C4 Cactus – Madrid, Spain
C4 Picasso – Vigo, Spain
C4 Aircross – Mizushima, Japan
C5 – Rennes, France
Berlingo - Vigo, Spain
Dacia
Duster – Mioveni, Romania
Fiat
500 – Tychy, Poland
500C – Tychy, Poland
500L – Kragujevac, Serbia
500X – Melfi, Italy
Talento – Sandouville, France
Ford (updated as of 09.11.2018)
KA – Tychy, Poland
KA+ – India
Fiesta – Cologne, Germany
Ecosport – Hermosillo, Mexico
Focus – Saarlouis, Germany (also from 2019)
Focus Electric - If VIN starts with W: Saarlouis, Germany. If VIN starts with 1: Michigan, USA
Kuga – Valencia, Spain
Mondeo – Valencia, Spain
S-max – Valencia, Spain
Edge – Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Mustang – Flat Rock, Michigan, USA
Mustang Mach-E – Mexico
Ranger – Johannesburg, South Africa (from 2011. If VIN number 1 is M, the car is manufactured in Rayong, Thailand).
Honda
HR-V – Mexico
Civic - UK
Jazz - El Salto, Mexico (but produced all over the world, including the UK).
Hyundai
I10 – Izmit, Turkey
I20 – Izmit, Turkey
I30 – Czech Republic
I40 – Korea
Ioniq – Korea
Ix20 – Czech Republic
Tucson – Czech Republic
Isuzu
D-Max – Thailand
Jeep
Renegade – Melfi, Italy
Wrangler – Toledo, Ohio, USA
Compass – Toledo, Ohio, USA
Cherokee – Toledo, Ohio, USA
Kia
Cee'd – Zilina, Slovakia
Niro - Korea
Picanto - Korea
Optima - Korea
Lexus
CT200h – Kyushu, Japan
IS300h – Tahara, Japan
LC500h – Motomashi, Japan
LS500h – Tahara, Japan
RC300h – Tahara, Japan
NX300h – Kyushu, Japan
RX450h – Kyushu, Japan, possibly Cambridge, Canada (VIN number 11 is C)
Maxus
EV80 – Shanghai, China
Mazda
2 – Mexico
3 – Hofu, Japan
6 – Hofu, Japan
CX-3 – Hofu, Japan
CX-5 – Hiroshima, Japan
MX-5 - Hiroshima, Japan
Mercedes-Benz
A-Class – Rastatt, Germany
B-Class – Rastatt, Germany
C-Class – Bremen, Germany
E-Class – Sindelfingen, Germany
GLA – Rastatt, Germany
GLC – Bremen, Germany
CLE – Sindelfingen, Germany
MG
ZS – Zhengzhou, China
Mini
One and Cooper – Nedcar, Born, Netherlands
Countryman – Nedcar, Born, Netherlands
Mitsubishi
Space Star – Laem Chabang, Thailand
i-Miev – Mizushima, Japan
Outlander – Okazaki, Japan
Eclipse Cross PHEV – Okazaki, Japan
Nissan
Juke - UK
Leaf (new and old model) - Sunderland, UK (VIN begins with "SJN") possibly Nissan USA, Smyrna, Tennessee (VIN beginning with "1N") or Nissan Japan (VIN beginning with "JN").
Note - UK
Pulsar - Spain
Qashqai - UK
e-NV200 – Barcelona, Spain
NV300 – Sandouville, France
Opel
Adam – Eisenach, Germany
Corsa – Figueruelas, Zaragoza, Spain (Also applies to 2020- including Corsa-e).
Astra – Ellesmere, UK (VIN digit no. 11 is 8), or Gliwice, Poland (G) parallel import
Insignia – Rüsselheim, Germany
Mocha - Zaragoza, Spain
Crossland X – Zaragoza, Spain
Vivaro – Luton, UK
Peugeot
108 – Kolin, Czech Republic
208 – Trnava, Slovakia (VIN digit 11 is T), – Poissy, France (W) or Mulhouse, France (Y)
308 – Sochaux, France
508 – From 2018: Mulhouse, France – Before 2018: Rennes, France
2008 – Mulhouse, France
3008 – Sochaux, France
4008 – Mizushima, Japan
5008 – From 2017: Rennes, France – Before 2017: Sochaux, France
Renault
Zoe – Flins, France
Clio – Flins, France
Captur - Valladolid, Spain
Talisman – Douai, France5
Kangoo – Maubeuge, France
Trafic – Sandouville, France
Saab
9-3 5-d, 4-d and stv – Trollhättan
9-3 convertible – Graz, Austria (from 2004) – Valmet/Finland (1998-2003)
Seat
All models – Martorell, Catalonia, Spain
Skoda
Citigo – Bratislava, Slovakia
Fabia – Solomonovo, Ukraine (close to the border with Slovakia and Hungary)
Rapid Spaceback – Mladà Boleslav, Czech Republic
Octavia – Mladà Boleslav, Czech Republic
Superb – Vrschlabi, Czech Republic
Subaru
Impreza – Fuji Heavy Industries, Japan
Levorg – Fuji Heavy Industries, Japan
BRZ – Fuji Heavy Industries, Japan
Forester - Fuji Heavy Industries, Japan
Suzuki
Ignis – Suzuki Motor Corp., Japan
Swift – Magyar Suzuki, Hungary
SX4 S-Cross – Magyar Suzuki, Hungary
Tesla
Model 3 – (-06.2021) Fremont, California, USA. (07.2021-) Shanghai, China
Model Y - Shanghai, China
Model S – Fremont, California, USA
Model X – Fremont, California, USA
Toyota
Aygo – Kolin, Czech Republic
Yaris – Onnaing-Valenciennes, France
Auris - UK
Corolla (2019-) – UK
Avensis – UK
Prius - Japan
Prius +Seven – Japan
RAV4 – Japan
Land Cruiser - Japan
Volkswagen
Up! and e-Up! – Bratislava, Slovakia
Polo – Pamplona, Spain
Golf – Wolfsburg, Germany
Golf Alltrack – Mosel, Germany
Golf Sportsvan – Wolfsburg, Germany
ID.3 – Zwickau, Germany
ID.4 – Zwickau, Germany
Passat – Emden, Germany
Passat Alltrack – Emden, Germany
T-Roc – Quinta do Anjo, Portugal
Tiguan – Wolfsburg, Germany
Touran – Bratislava, Slovakia
Caddy – Poznan, Poland
Transporter - Hannover, Germany
Caravelle – Hannover, Germany
Amarok – Hannover, Germany
Volvo (updated as of 20.12.2020)
V40 – Ghent, Belgium
V40 Cross Country – Ghent, Belgium
S60 (pre-2018) – Ghent, Belgium
S60 (2018-) – Ridgeville, South Carolina, USA
S60 Cross Country – Ghent, Belgium
V60 (before 2018) – Torslanda, Sweden
V60 (model year 2018) – Ghent, Belgium
V60 (2019-) – Torslanda, Sweden
V60 Cross Country (pre-2018) – Torslanda, Sweden
V60 Cross Country (2018-) – Ghent, Belgium
S90 – Torslanda, Sweden
V90 – Torslanda, Sweden
XC40 – Ghent, Belgium
XC60 (older than 2019) – Ghent, Belgium
XC60 (2019-2020) – Torslanda, Sweden
XC60 (2020-) – Chengdu, China
XC90 – Torslanda, Sweden
Xpeng
G3 – Henan, China
This list is far from the truth as of October 2018 and should be heavily updated.
The data for the post was obtained in January 2017 based on actual VIN numbers of cars sold through Norwegian dealers. Each entry on the list is based on several cars to be as safe as possible. But information like this is, of course, "fresh" as changes are constantly taking place. New models, - change of production locations - and last but not least, change of which factory(s) supply cars to Norwegian importers.
I promise to go through the list shortly.
why isn't lexus involved
Now Lexus is there, too!
Volvo V60 twin engine D5 and D6 are manufactured at Torslanda Gothenburg
Thanks for the information. Did not know that the new V60 was produced in both Belgium and Sweden. Now I have checked VIN number 11 (Production plant) on cars from Finn.no (new model). Here I see that D5 and D6 have "2" (Gent) while D3 and D4 have "1" (Torslanda). Then it seems to be the opposite? - so that the D5 and D6 Twin Engine are produced in Belgium while the D3 and D4 are produced in Sweden?
I will check several to get an overview. Let me know if I'm wrong 🙂
https://www.abcnyheter.no/motor/bil/2012/11/20/163088/slik-produseres-en-plug-in-hybrid
Made an update regarding the V60. It's true as the film clip says, all V60s were produced at the same assembly line. However, starting with the 2018 model year, production of the (then discontinued) V60 and V60 Cross Country was moved to Belgium, probably to prepare for the production of the new V60. The new V60 (2019-) is now produced at Torslanda. Everything according to the Vin number. Check if number 11. Torslanda is "1", while Belgium is "2".
As a curiosity, I can mention that my 2017 Ford Ranger Wildtrak is manufactured in Thailand, at the same factory as Toyota Hiluxe. but I don't live in Norway then.
The VIN number on Norwegian cars 2012- is in Australian format and begins with "6FP" (Ford Australia Trucks) - but after 2016 no more Fords are produced in Australia. They just get designed there. On Australian wine numbers, digit 8 indicates assembly plant. All Norwegian cars (including the Ranger Wildtrak) have "J" here, which probably must be Johannesburg in South Africa. The VIN number of cars manufactured in Rayong, Thailand maybe starts with "M"?
Thanks for posting! I have then corrected the article. Good luck with your Ranger Wildtrak!
You are right, the number on my car starts with M as you say. Currently in the Philippines. I believe that some cars are actually also built here, but I don't remember which ones. Interesting information you have here, I don't think there are that many people who know that cars are made in so many countries, at least I got a lot of new information here.
Thank you - then we can count on M to be Thailand. New Rangers in Australia also have VINs beginning with M, so they probably also get cars from Thailand. According to a recent overview from Ford, they currently have 34 assembly plants worldwide - and several factories that only make engines, gearboxes, etc. Ford used to have production in the Philippines as well, but it is said to have been shut down in 2012.
Hi, how can I check if the saab 9.3 was manufactured in UE? Were all Saabs produced in Sweden? My Saab is registered in Norway and I would like to export it to Poland.
All 9-3 are manufactured in the EU. All the cars are produced in Trollhättan, Sweden, - except for the cabriolet which was produced at the Magna Steyr factory in Austria from 2004 or at the Valmet factory in Finland between 1998-2003. Good luck!
Thank you very much for your reply. Do you perhaps know where/how I can get an official document confirming that the car was manufactured in the EU. I can't get it from the manufacturer, they don't exist….
Looks like v60 r design from med 2019 is made in belgium!