I mentioned this in another post, but thought I would start a new thread to see if anyone else can explain or has wondered the same thing.

The 1st character in a vehicle's identification number identifies the country in which the vehicle was manufactured. Vehicles manufactured in the U.S. are assigned a first character of "1" or "4". The Crossfire VIN's 1st character is "1". Interesting since it is manufactured in Germany. The first character of the VIN for a vehicle manufactured in Germany is "W".
Why wasn't the Crossfire assigned a "W"?

I thought maybe all Chrysler vehicles are assigned a "1" since it is a U.S. division of DCX. So I checked out the VIN for the PT Cruiser. PT Cruisers have a 1st character of "3". The country assigned to "3" is Mexico, which is where Cruisers are assembled.

:?: :?:

 

That is very interesting indeed.

The same applies for GM. My Z06 made in KY has a 1, the F-Body has a 2 for Canada and our Avalanche has a 3 for Mexico as well.

 

Probably what country where "final" assembly takes place??? So if they're built in Germany but final'd in USA, they'd get a 1. PT's final'd in Mexico would have a 3. Etc.

 

But I was under the impression that they were actually fully assembled in Germany and shipped here as a whole car????

 

??? Maybe the front and rear wing badges are put on here??? I was after all just guessing (hence the ???) why they'd have a 1 instead of a W. I'm sure there's some "rule book" out there somebody could dig up off the web to explain WHY it's 1 instead of W, but me don't have time (have to wash and polish for Sunday's Skyline Drive run!) .

 

yep, that's the way i have it. the window sticker says 1% usa and it's my clear understanding that it's completely assembled in germany, put in a container and shipped over here.

i never have heard what the 1% usa really is.

dan

 

1% = the plugs and drilling holes in your front bumper to put on the plate holder

-marc