How do you tell if a Hyundai is US or Korea built?

Monday, 01 July,

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Whether because of national pride or because you want to be a more informed consumer, you may want to know whether the car, truck, minivan, or SUV you drive (or want to drive) is "Made in America".

You'll likely find that the answer can be a bit complicated. For instance, strictly speaking, "Made in USA" would exclude cars that have been produced in Canada (and have been for generations) for the American market; that's the reason why the most commonly used phrase is "Made in America", which includes Canadian production and may also include the substantial Mexican production of recent years, depending on who's publishing the figures.

Here's a quick way to start: just read the VIN (vehicle identification number), which is the car's serial number. Cars assembled in the U.S. start with a 1, 4 or 5. Cars assembled in Japan have VINs beginning with a J. Canadian-assembled cars begin with a 2. Cars assembled in England begin with an S. German-assembled cars begin with a W. Korea is a K and Mexico is a 3.

Whether because of national pride or because you want to be a more informed consumer, you may want to know whether the car, truck, minivan, or SUV you drive (orto drive) is "Made in America".You'll likely find that the answer can be a bit complicated. For instance, strictly speaking, "Made in USA" would exclude cars that have been produced in Canada (and have been for generations) for the American market; that's the reason why the most commonly used phrase is "Made in America", which includes Canadian production and may also include the substantial Mexican production of recent years, depending on who's publishing the figures.Here's a quick way to start: just read the VIN (vehicle identification number), which is the car's serial number. Cars assembled in the U.S. start with a 1, 4 or 5. Cars assembled in Japan have VINs beginning with a J. Canadian-assembled cars begin with a 2. Cars assembled in England begin with an S. German-assembled cars begin with a W. Korea is a K and Mexico is a 3.

Quick Facts About American Cars vs. Made in the USA

• The first character of a VIN is the country code indicating where the car was assembled.
• Inside the driver&#;s door frame is a VIN label that spells out the car&#;s manufacturing location.
• A new vehicle&#;s window sticker shows the source of its parts and the final assembly point.

Many Americans have patriotic thoughts and share a desire to support the country&#;s workforce &#; even when buying a new car. But in this increasingly global economy, how can you tell if the American car you&#;re considering was built in the USA? And what about &#;import&#; models assembled on American soil &#; are they American-made cars? We have some suggestions for figuring this out.

How to Know Where Your Car Was Built

It requires minimal deciphering, but the vehicle identification number, or VIN, indicates the car&#;s production location. The first character in the VIN is part of a standardized 3-digit world manufacturer identifier, or WMI. The first number or letter of the VIN signifies the vehicle&#;s country of manufacture. Use the following WMI country codes to determine where a car was made:

• United States: 1, 4, or 5
• Canada: 2
• Mexico: 3
• Japan: J
• South Korea: K
• United Kingdom: S
• Germany: W
• Sweden or Finland: Y
• Italy: Z

These letters and numbers reflect the car&#;s final assembly point, even if some or most of the car&#;s production happens in other countries.

Another, perhaps simpler, way to find out where the automaker built a car is to check the VIN label located inside the driver&#;s doorjamb. This sticker often spells out the car&#;s manufacturing location. You might see a phrase, such as &#;Manufactured by Ford in the USA&#; or &#;Built in Japan by Honda,&#; that leaves no doubt regarding its assembly point.

You can also try searching online to find out where your car was built, though it&#;s important to ensure that you&#;re considering the correct year and version of your vehicle. Automakers will often build certain cars in several factories around the world, though many U.S. models will come from only one or two plants.

MORE: These Are the Lost American Minivans You Probably Don&#;t Remember

If you want to learn more, please visit our website MOTEC.

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Check the Window Sticker

Each new car&#;s window sticker (also known as the Monroney label) provides three essential pieces of information for drivers interested in discovering where a car was built: the parts content label, the final assembly point, and the country of origin for the car&#;s major components.

The parts content label shows two items: the total percentage of parts from the United States and the significant sources of foreign parts. For the first category, a typical car might say &#;50%,&#; meaning that half of its components come from the U.S. For the second, a car may say &#;Japan: 20%,&#; which reveals that Japan is a significant source of around a fifth of the car&#;s parts.

The window sticker also displays the vehicle&#;s final assembly point. In plain speech, this is where the car is built. A car&#;s Monroney label listing its final assembly point as the United States is built in the U.S., even if most of its parts come from other countries.

Finally, the window sticker displays the country of origin of the car&#;s major components. It reveals the production location of the car&#;s engine and transmission, which is a big deal to some drivers because these are the most critical items powering a vehicle.

RELATED: PSA: Don&#;t Throw Your New Car Window Sticker Away

Buy American?

In an increasingly global marketplace, buying a car built entirely in the United States is next to impossible. Just because a vehicle is an American brand doesn&#;t mean it was made in America. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, no vehicle sources 100% of its parts and manufacturing from within the United States. But this information should help you figure out whether the car you&#;re considering has U.S. roots.

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Editor&#;s Note: This article has been updated for accuracy since it was originally published.

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