Kia VIN positions in the 2026 filing
Kia's model year 2026 filing covers 19 Kia models (Kia: Seltos, K5, K4 sedan (4DR), K4 hatchback (5DR), Carnival, Carnival Hybrid, Sportage (made in Korea), Sportage (made in Georgia), Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Sorento (made in Georgia), Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, Niro EV, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, EV6, EV9 (made in Georgia), EV9 GT (made in Korea)) with 162 codes.
Model identified by positions 4 and 5 and 6 and 8 with the first 3 characters.
| Pos. | What it encodes | Example: Kia Seltos |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Maker code (WMI) | KND = Kia Corporation, MPV |
| 4 | Make & line | E = KIA, Seltos |
| 5 | Model series | P = LX |
| 6 | Body type | 2 = Wagon 5DR 4X2 Class-B |
| 7 | Restraint system and brakes | A = MPV, Seltos, fitted: Seat belt, FRT AIRBAG Dr's, FRT AIRBAG Pa's, SIDE AIRBAG 1ROW, CURTAIN AIRBAG 1ROW, CURTAIN AIRBAG 2ROW, not fitted: KNEE AIRBAG Dr's, KNEE AIRBAG Pa's, SIDE AIRBAG 2ROW, SIDE AIRBAG 3ROW, CURTAIN AIRBAG 3ROW |
| 8 | Engine | 7 = Gasoline Gamma-II 1.6L DOHC T-GDI |
| 9 | Check digit | calculated from the other 16 |
| 10 | Model year | T = 2026 |
| 11 | Assembly plant | 7 = Gwang-ju / Korea |
| 12-17 | Serial number |
Kia engine codes, position 8
25 engines across 19 models; a code is valid only with the models listed next to it.
| Code | Engine as printed | Models |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Gasoline Gamma-II 1.6L DOHC T-GDI | Seltos |
| A | Gasoline Nu 2.0L MPI | Seltos |
| 7 | G 2.5 DOHC GDI THETA Ⅲ | K5 |
| 8 | G 2.5 DOHC T-GDI THETA Ⅲ | K5 |
| E | Gasoline 2.0L MPI Nu PE (4-Cylinder) | K4 sedan (4DR), K4 hatchback (5DR) |
| C | Gasoline 1.6L T-GDI Gamma-II (4-Cylinder) | K4 sedan (4DR), K4 hatchback (5DR) |
| 3 | G 3.5 DOHC GDI LAMDA III | Carnival |
| A | G 1.6 DOHC T-GDI GAMMA II + HEV | Carnival Hybrid |
| F | G 2.5 DOHC GDI THETA Ⅲ | Sportage (made in Korea), Sportage (made in Georgia) |
| G | Gasoline 1.6 DOHC T-GDI GAMMA Ⅱ + HEV | Sportage Hybrid |
| H | Gasoline 1.6 DOHC T-GDI GAMMA Ⅱ + PHEV (360V, 38.3Ah+72kW) | Sportage Plug-in Hybrid |
| C | KMC Gasoline 2.5L DOHC GDI Theta-III (4-Cylinder, 191 HP) | Sorento (made in Georgia) |
| F | KMC Gasoline 2.5L DOHC T-GDI Theta-III (4-Cylinder, 281 HP) | Sorento (made in Georgia) |
| G | Gasoline 1.6L DOHC T-GDI Gamma-II (270V, 5.5Ah + 44.2kW) | Sorento Hybrid |
| H | Gasoline 1.6L DOHC T-GDI Gamma-II (360V, 38.3Ah + 66.9kW) | Sorento Plug-in Hybrid |
| 1 | EV : 358V, 180.9Ah + FR 150kW | Niro EV |
| E | Gasoline 1.6L DOHC GDI Kappa PE + HEV (240V, 5.5Ah + 32kW) | Niro Hybrid |
| F | Gasoline 1.6L DOHC GDI Kappa PE + PHEV (360V, 30.8Ah + 62kW) | Niro Plug-in Hybrid |
| A | EV : 120.6Ah / RR 160kW (697V) | EV6 |
| B | EV : 120.6Ah / RR 160kW (523V) | EV6 |
| C | EV : 120.6Ah / FR 70kW / RR 160kW (697V) | EV6 |
| 1 | EV : 552V 180.9Ah + RR 160kW | EV9 (made in Georgia) |
| 2 | EV : 632V 120.6Ah + RR 160kW | EV9 (made in Georgia) |
| 5 | EV : 552V 180.9Ah + FR 160kW + RR 160kW | EV9 (made in Georgia) |
| 7 | EV : 552V 180.9Ah + FR 160kW + RR 270kW (Motor output : 139 kW + RR 235 kW) | EV9 GT (made in Korea) |
Kia maker codes (first 3 characters)
| Code | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|
| KND | Kia Corporation | MPV |
| KNA | Kia Corporation | Passenger Car |
| 3KP | Kia Mexico S.A. De C.V. | Passenger Car |
| 5XY | Kia Georgia, Inc. | MPV |
Kia plant codes (position 11)
| Code | Assembly plant |
|---|---|
| 7 | Gwang-ju / Korea |
| 5 | Hwasung / Korea |
| E | Mexico |
| 6 | Gwangmyeong Plant / Korea |
| G | GEORGIA |
Source
"MY26 Kia Seltos Vin Decoding.pdf" (3/7/2025); "MY26 Kia K5 Vin Decoding.pdf" (3/31/2025); "MY26 Kia K4 Vin Decoding Update.pdf" (9/9/2025); "VIN DECODING_MY26 Kia Carnival ICE_HEV.pdf" (2/11/2025); "MY26 Kia Sportage_Korea Vin Decoding.pdf" (1/22/2025); "MY26 Kia Sportage_Georgia Vin Decoding_Update.pdf" (1/22/2025); "MY26 Kia Sportage HEV VIN Decoding.pdf" (4/14/2025); "MY26 Kia Sportage PHEV Vin Decoder.pdf" (6/6/2025); "MY25-26 Kia Sorento_Georgia Vin Decoding Revision.pdf" (10/27/2025); "MY26 Kia Sorento HEV_PHEV VIN Decoder.pdf" (5/8/2025); "MY26 Kia Niro EV_HEV Vin Decoding_2025-12-16.pdf" (12/16/2025); "MY26 Kia Niro PHEV Vin Decoding.pdf" (5/14/2026); "MY26 Kia EV6 Vin Decoding_Update.pdf" (11/11/2025); "MY26 Kia EV9_Georgia Vin Decoding.pdf" (11/21/2024); "MY26 Kia EV9 GT_Korea Vin Decoding.pdf" (4/30/2025) (Kia Corporation (with Kia Georgia, Inc. and Kia Mexico S.A. de C.V.; filed by Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc.), NHTSA Manufacturer Information Database, retrieved October 2, 2026). Older years and general VIN rules: VIN decoder. Not affiliated with Kia Corporation (with Kia Georgia, Inc. and Kia Mexico S.A. de C.V.; filed by Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc.).
Questions
How do I decode a Kia VIN?
Enter all 17 characters. Take the made-up example 5XYK23AFXTG100001: position 4 (K) gives KIA, Sportage; position 5 (2) gives LX, so it reads as a 2026 Kia Sportage (made in Georgia).
Which VIN character is the engine code on a Kia?
Position 8. On a model year 2026 Kia Seltos, 7 is Gasoline Gamma-II 1.6L DOHC T-GDI. Read it together with the model: codes differ between models and years.
What does KND mean on a VIN?
KND is Kia Corporation, MPV.
Which plant built my Kia?
Position 11 is the plant. In the model year 2026 filing: 7 is Gwang-ju / Korea; 5 is Hwasung / Korea; E is Mexico.