VIN starting with a W

[gwyn7532]

I note that some 10 entries in the table have a VIN starting with a W (not 3, which is normal). What is the significance of this?

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[BlueMach]

I note that some 10 entries in the table have a VIN starting with a W (not 3, which is normal). What is the significance of this?

Europe.

The World Manufacturer Identifier - the first 3 digits of the VIN - are assigned to the manufacturer "of record."

North American Mach-Es have "3FM" VINs which means it's a SUV made "by" Ford Mexico.
European Mach-Es have "WF0" VINs which means it's made "by" Ford-Werke AG, Cologne, the legal entity of Ford of Europe.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

it means they are Wide-Track Mach-Es. Ford took a play from Pontiac.
(this is not what it means)

 

[gwyn7532]

Europe.

The World Manufacturer Identifier - the first 3 digits of the VIN - are assigned to the manufacturer "of record."

North American Mach-Es have "3FM" VINs which means it's a SUV made "by" Ford Mexico.
European Mach-Es have "WF0" VINs which means it's made "by" Ford-Werke AG, Cologne.

 

[RonTCat]

I note that some 10 entries in the table have a VIN starting with a W (not 3, which is normal). What is the significance of this?

W is much cooler than 3, so some people asked for W.

 

[malba2366]

The first letter is supposed to identify where a vehicle is made, not where the company is based.

 

[BlueMach]

The first letter is supposed to identify where a vehicle is made, not where the company is based.

No, it is not.

The first letter is simply the first character of the three-character World Manufacturer Identifier, defined by ISO 3780. The WMI is assigned by country, but does not indicate the country of manufacture of the vehicle itself. It indicates the country of the manufacturer.

 

[gwyn7532]

I had a 2nd look at the list. All the VINs starting with a W (Germany) are for European customers. All those starting with a 3 (Mexico) are for N American customers. I guess it's as simple as that

 

[mustangguy64]

As already stated the manufacturer part of the VIN can be manipulated for numerous reasons; we are all aware that healthcare, police, education, politicians etc like to manipulate figures to meet 'targets'. European MME's are manufactured for Ford of Europe which is headquartered in Cologne hence W at the start of the VIN. BUT if you then look at digit 11 in the VIN that is the assembly/manufacturing site which is M; in the Ford list of assembly/manufacturing sites M is the code for - Cuautitlan Assembly

 

[Maquis]

it means they are Wide-Track Mach-Es. Ford took a play from Pontiac.
(this is not what it means)

This would have been a fun “Wrong answers only” question. ?

 

[mkhuffman]

Most of us probably are following the other discussion about this, but just in case, @Wonky_Donkey posted the list Ford uses to populate position 11 in the VIN, which specifies the manufacturing site.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...couldn’t-id-it-any-thoughts.28308/post-647959

Any bets on how long it takes for someone to post a new thread, asking the same question? I give it six months tops...

 

[GreaseMonkey]

As already stated the manufacturer part of the VIN can be manipulated for numerous reasons; we are all aware that healthcare, police, education, politicians etc like to manipulate figures to meet 'targets'. European MME's are manufactured for Ford of Europe which is headquartered in Cologne hence W at the start of the VIN. BUT if you then look at digit 11 in the VIN that is the assembly/manufacturing site which is M; in the Ford list of assembly/manufacturing sites M is the code for - Cuautitlan Assembly

I’m intrigued. How is this coding convention part of the manipulative practices of police and politicians?

 

[AlpaChino]

it means they are Wide-Track Mach-Es. Ford took a play from Pontiac.
(this is not what it means)

"Wider is better"

 

[Wonky_Donkey]

Here you go - this covers most 2021 US VIN configurations for Ford

 

[Wonky_Donkey]

Most of us probably are following the other discussion about this, but just in case, @Wonky_Donkey posted the list Ford uses to populate position 11 in the VIN, which specifies the manufacturing site.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/my-wife-just-returned-from-her-mums-90th-birthday-and-saw-this-car-i-looked-online-and-couldn’t-id-it-any-thoughts.28308/post-647959

Any bets on how long it takes for someone to post a new thread, asking the same question? I give it six months tops...

6 months? ... more like 6 days ?

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