For those of you who've wondered what in the hell that huge jumble of numbers actually meant, here it is. For this we'll use the fictional Vin number of :

KMHCF35GXYU000001

The first three digits are the WMI or World Manufacturer Index - KMHCF35GXYU000001

KMH = Hyundai Korea (passenger vehicle)
2HM = Hyundai Canada
KM8 = Hyundai Koera (multi-purpose vehicle)
5NP = Hyundai USA (passenger vehicle)

The next 7 digits represent the Vechicle Description Section - KMHCF35GXYU000001

The first digit of the VDS denotes the model line and drive type - KMHCF35GXYU000001

Model line
B = Sonata 1989-1994
C = Sonata 1995-1998, Accent 2000-
D = Elantra 2001-
E = Sonata 2006-
F = XG300 2001, XG350 2002-
H = Tiburon 2003-
J = Elantra 1992-2000, Tiburon 1997-2001, Tucson 2005-
L = Excel 1986-1989
S = Santa Fe 2001-
V = Excel 1990-1994, Scoupe 1991-1995, Accent 1995-1999
W = Sonata 1999-2005

The second digit of the VDS denotes the body type - KMHCF35GXYU000001

Body Type (86-2000 models except 00 Accent but including 01-05 Sonata and 01 tiburon)
A = 5-door hatchback
D = 3-door hatchback
E = 2-door sedan
F = 4-door sedan
G = 2-door coupe
W = 5-door wagon

Trim Level (All 01-06 models except for 01-05 Sonata and 01 Tiburon, but including 00 Accent)
B = GL Santa Fe 2001-2004
C = GLS or LX Santa Fe 2001-
F = Base or L Accent 2000-2004
G = GL or GS Accent 2000-2004
G = GT Accent 2003-2005, GLS Accent 2005
M = GL (base) Tiburon 2003-2004, GS Tiburon 2005-
M = GL Tucson 2005-
N = GLS or GT Elantra 2001-, GLS Accent 2006-
N = GLS or LX Tucson 2005-
N = GT Tiburon 2003-, SE Tiburon 2005-
T = GL Sonata 2006-
U = GLS (Base or L) XG300 2001, XG350 2002-
U = GLS or LX Sonata 2006

The third digit of the VDS denotes the trim level or ody type as well - KMHCF35GXYU000001

Trim Level (86-00 models except 00 Accent, but including 01-05 Sonata and 01 Tiburon)
1 = base
2 = GL
3 = GLS, LS, LX, GS

Body Type (all 01-06 models except 01-05 Sonata and 01 Tiburon, but including 00 Accent)
1 = Wagon FWD
3 = 3-door hatchback
4 = 4-door sedan
5 = 5-door hatchback
6 = coupe
7 = wagon AWD
8 = wagon

The fourth digit of the VDS denotes the restraint system or GVWR - KMHCF35GXYU000001

Restraint System (passenger vehicles)
1 = active 3 point
2 = passive
3 = driver's side airbag (manual belt) passenger side passive
4 = dual airbags (manual belts)
5 = depowered airbags
6 = advanced airbags or depowered airbags with supression

GVWR (multi-purpose vehicle)
2 = GVWR Class C (> 1,814-2,268kg. / 4,001-5000lbs)
3 = GVWR Class D (> 2,268-2,722kg. / 5,001-6000lbs)

The fifth digit of the VDS denotes the Engine Type - KMHCF35GXYU000001
B = 1975cc DOHC 4cyl Tucson 2005-
B = 2351cc DOHC 4cyl Santa Fe 2001-2004
C = 1599cc DOHC 4cyl Accent 2001-
C = 2359cc DOHC 4cyl Sonata 2006-
D = 1975cc DOHC 4cyl Elantra 2001-, Tiburon 2003-
D = 2656cc DOHC V6 Santa Fe 2001-, Tucson 2005-
D = 2972cc DOHC V6 XG300 2001
E = 3497cc DOHC V6 XG350 2002-, Santa Fe 2003-
F = 1997cc DOHC 4cyl Sonata 1992-1998
F = 1975cc DOHC 4cyl Tiburon 1997-2001, Elantra 1999-2000
F = 2656cc DHOC V6 Tiburon 2003-
F = 3342cc DOHC V6 Sonata 2006-
G = 1495cc SOHC 4cyl Accent 2000-2002
H = 2656cc DOHC V6 Sonata 2002-2005
J = 1468cc Sohc 4cyl Accent Excel 1989-1994, Scoupe 1991-1992
M = 1836cc DOHC 4cyl Elantra 1993-1995
M = 1795cc DOHC 4cyl Elantra 1996-1998, Tiburon 1997-1998
N = 1495cc DOHC 4cyl Accent 1996-1997
N = 1495cc SOHC 4cyl Scoupe "alha" 1993-1995, Accent 1995-1999
R = 1596cc DOHC 4cyl Elantra 1992-1997
S = 2351cc SOHC V6 Sonata 1989-1991, Sonata 1999-2005
T = 2972cc SOHC V6 Sonata 1990-1998
V = 2493cc DOHC V6 Sonata 1999-2001

The sixth digit of the VDS is a check digit - KMHCF35GXYU000001
0-9 or x, this has no significant meaning.

The seventh digit of the VDS denotes the model year of the vehicle - KMHCF35GXYU000001
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007
8 = 2008

The next seven digits of the Vin are the Vehicle Indicator Section - KMHCF35GXYU000001

The first digit of the VIS denotes the Manufacturing plant.
U = Ulsan Plant, Korea
B = Bromont Plant, Canada
A = Asan Plant, Korea
H = Alabama Plant, USA

The next six digits of the VIS represent the car's serial number.

By learning to read this we find out the vehicle vin we've been working on belongs to a 2000 Accent base model 3-door hatchback with depowered airbags, 1.5 liter SOHC 4 cylinder engine, and was produced in the Ulsan plant in South Korea.

interesting!!! nice find!

According to my VIN, mine is

KMH = Hyundai Korea
and made at:

U = Ulsan Plant, Korea

...but I bought it in Canada, and I don't have any KDM parts

cool



.

That's kinda neat to know.
Gives me more random things to spout during empty spots in conversation.

You're really stretching.

Just because it was made in Korea, doesn't mean it will have KDM parts on it. Currently, all of Hyundai's vehicles sent throughout the world are made in Korea, except the 2006 V6 Sonota, which is made in Alabama.

I should stick your face in a blender for that. You're lucky I'm lazy.

This actually came straight out of a little packet I got from Hyundai along with all of our info for the 2006 my sonatas. I didn't know if it would be useful at all, but I thought that if I put it up here somebody might be able to get some use out of it.

Took forever to get it all typed up and underlined though. Luckily I did it while I was at work and we were slow

According to my VIN, mine is

KMH = Hyundai Korea
and made at:

U = Ulsan Plant, Korea

all this info can be found at HMAservice.com

I think some people realize that, but I wanted to post it here for the site as well.