How can I find out where my car was built?

My MINI Aceman, according to reviews, was made in China. However I'm puzzled that the VIN number begins with W, which I believe is Germany. What's going on?

Asked on 29 September 2025 by Alan Crawford

Answered by David Ross

The first one or two characters of a VIN are the world manufacturer identifier, rather than the location that the vehicle was built. W does stand for Germany, in this case reflecting that MINI is a German manufacturer. The MINI Aceman is currently built in China but production is switching to Oxford in 2026.

Tags: vin number car production

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