Korean Car VINs: Decoding Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis VINs
Hyundai Motor Group assembles vehicles in South Korea, Alabama, and Georgia. Here is how to decode VINs from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
Hyundai Motor Group — encompassing Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis — has become one of the largest automotive groups in the world. Its vehicles are assembled in South Korea, the United States, and other countries. Korean-assembled models carry K-prefix WMI codes; US-assembled models carry 5 or other US codes.
Hyundai WMI Codes
- KMH — Hyundai passenger cars, South Korea
- 5NP — Hyundai passenger cars, United States
- 5NM — Hyundai SUVs, United States
Kia WMI Codes
Genesis WMI Codes
- KM8 — Genesis/Hyundai SUVs, South Korea
View all codes on the Hyundai and Kia manufacturer pages.
US Assembly Plants
Hyundai operates a plant in Montgomery, Alabama (Sonata, Santa Fe). Kia operates a plant in West Point, Georgia (Telluride, Sportage). Both plants produce high-volume models for the US market and export. VINs from these plants carry the plant code at position 11.
Hyundai and Kia Theft Risk
Hyundai and Kia vehicles from certain model years (2015–2021) became a widely publicized theft target due to a viral social media exploit. The affected vehicles can be identified by model year (position 10) and VDS details. If you're considering a Hyundai or Kia from those years, verify whether your specific VIN falls within the affected range using the NHTSA recall database.
Electric Models
The Hyundai IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kia EV6 are assembled in South Korea and use Korean WMI codes. These models carry "Electric" as their NHTSA-decoded fuel type. The Genesis GV60 and GV70e are also Korean-assembled EVs with the same WMI structure as their ICE counterparts — the distinction is in the VDS.