Tech Corner : Article by Pedro P. Bonilla, Tech Editor
The Vehicle Identification Number is a unique digital identification for motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. As we know it today, the VIN is a 17- character identifier which does not include the letters O (o), I (i) or Q (q) to avoid confusion with the numerals 0, 1 and 9. It is generally printed or embossed on a small metal plate on the driver’s side of the dashboard, visible when looking through the windshield from the outside.
VIN Starting from the left: Character 1: Country of manufacture Characters 2 and 3: Manufacturing company Characters 4 -8: Type and size of engine Character 9: Manufacturer’s security code Character 10: Model year Character 11: Manufacturing plant Characters 12 – 17: Vehicle’s serial number Following you can see the two standards (EU and USA) for comparison: Standard
ISO 3779
European Union[7] more than 500 vehicles/year
European Union[7] 500 or fewer vehicles/year
North America more than 2,000 vehicles/year
North America 2,000 or fewer vehicles/year
INSERT: VIN.jpg HERE This is my car’s VIN behind the very pitted 300,000 mile OEM windshield.
The first official VIN appeared in 1954. At that time, the US government requested that automobile manufacturers and the Automobile Manufacturer’s Association develop a new standardized identifying numbering system, which was called the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Up to that time vehicles had been registered according to their engine’s number, but it quickly became apparent that a new system was required because of the common practice of engine replacement. The standardization of the modern VIN started in 1981 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The standard was changed several times since then and now, modern VINs are based on two related standards, originally issued by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) in 1979 (ISO 3779) in 1980 (ISO 3780). Compatible but different implementation of these ISO Standards have been adopted by the United States and the European Union. The VIN is not just a random string of alphanumeric characters. Each digit or group of digits refers to something specific about the vehicle’s manufacturing or design.
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Die Porsche
Kassette | Jun 2021
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World manufacturer identifier
Vehicle descriptor section
Vehicle identifier section
World manufacturer identifier
Indication of "the general characteristics of the vehicle"
Indication that provides "clear identification of a particular vehicle"
World manufact urer identifier
Indication of "the general characteristics of the vehicle"
Indication that provides "clear identification of a particular vehicle"
9
World manufacturer identifier
Vehicle attributes
Check digit
Model year
Plant code
World manufact urer identifier
Vehicle attributes
Check digit
Model year
Plant code
9
Sequential number
Manufacturer identifier
Sequential number
For our particular (Porsche) cars: Position 1 identifies the country where the vehicle was assembled: W – Germany (originally West Germany) Position 2 indicates the manufacturer of the vehicle: P – Porsche Position 3 identifies the exact brand division even in cases where the manufacturer has more than one division. Position 4, 5, 6 for Porsche vehicles made for the European and RoW markets, these positions are filled with a “Z” that does not represent anything other than non-North American. For vehicles made for the North American market, Position 4 of the Porsche VIN identifies the model line of the vehicle. A - 911 Carrera Coupe / 911 Carrera 4 Coupe / 911 Carrera 4S Coupe A - 911 Turbo Coupe / 911 GT2 A - 911 Turbo 4WD (997) Coupe A – 924 Coupe A - 928 S-4 Coupe (for 1990) A – 928 Coupe (for 1991) A - 944 Coupe A - Cayenne A - Carrera GT (990) A - Cayman A - Panamera (970) A - Macan
