As Tesla expands its business and produces electric vehicles in more and more places around the world, questions arise about where a particular vehicle comes from.
It might be especially interesting for us, as some of the models - like the Tesla Model Y - are produced at four plants simultaneously.
And here comes the NHTSA's 2023 Model Year VIN Decoder for Tesla to the rescue, which explains the meaning of the VIN code digits/letters in the United States.
The major thing is the origin. The plant that manufactures the vehicle is identified by digit 11 and in the US it can be:
- A = Austin, Texas
- F = Fremont, California
- N = Reno, Nevada (for Tesla Semi)
Additionally, we can see also other letters, if a vehicle is produced in Europe or in China.
- B = Berlin, Germany
- C = Shanghai, China
The model year can be identified by the digit #10. If a car is from 2023 model year, then there will be a P:
- 2022 model year: N
- 2023 model year: P
Another important thing is the Digit 8, which indicate the motor/drive unit:
- Digit 8: Motor/Drive Unit
5 = P2 Dual Motor (Designated for Model S & Model X)
6 = P2 Tri Motor (Designated for Model S & Model X)
A = Single Motor – Standard / Performance (Designated for Model 3)
B = Dual Motor – Standard (Designated for Model 3)
C = Dual Motor – Performance (Designated for Model 3)
D = Single Motor – Standard / Performance (Designated for Model Y)
E = Dual Motor – Standard (Designated for Model Y)
F = Dual Motor – Performance (Designated for Model Y)
At the time of the article, there is no info about the Tesla Cybertruck model, which will enter limited production in 2023.
Tesla Semi
An interesting thing is that the all-new Tesla Semi has its own code:
In the future, with new manufacturing sites (a plant in Mexico was recently announced) and additional models, the VIN decoder is expected to become even more complex.
See also
