How do I tell which Gigafactory built my car?

The first three characters are enough: XP7 = Berlin, LRW = Shanghai, 5YJ = Fremont, 7SA = Austin.

Does FSD show up in the VIN?

No. Full Self-Driving and Enhanced Autopilot are tied to the owner's Tesla account, not to the physical VIN.

How do you tell LFP from NMC?

The VDS (positions 4–8) encodes battery chemistry. Specialised Tesla decoders map that code to the cell type.

My Model Y starts with LRW — should I worry?

No. LRW means Gigafactory Shanghai, the source of many Model Y and Model 3 vehicles sold in Europe.

Do Tesla recalls work like other brands?

Not always. Tesla often fixes recalls via OTA software without a workshop visit. Campaigns appear on service.tesla.com, NHTSA and RAPEX.

Does the Cybertruck use a standard VIN?

Yes — 17 characters. The prefix is 7SA (Austin) with VDS codes specific to RWD, AWD and Cyberbeast.

How do I check Tesla recalls in France?

Use service.tesla.com with your VIN. DGCCRF and RAPEX also list alerts.

Does the decoder separate Model 3 from Model 3 Highland?

Yes. The Highland facelift uses VDS codes distinct from the previous generation, so they can be told apart reliably.

Tesla VIN Decoder

Decode your Tesla's VIN to identify model, battery type, capacity and specifications of your electric vehicle.

Tesla VIN Decoder

Decode your Tesla's VIN to identify model, battery type, capacity and specifications of your electric vehicle.

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Tesla VIN Decoder

Identify Your Tesla Instantly With the VIN

A Tesla VIN reveals more than the model: Gigafactory of origin, battery cell type, motor layout and production model year. On a fast-growing used market, those details matter.

Tesla VIN Prefixes: The Gigafactory in the First Three Characters

Unlike traditional OEMs, Tesla ties the WMI to the assembly plant rather than a corporate division:

WMI PREFIX	GIGAFACTORY	LOCATION
5YJ	Fremont Factory	California, USA
7SA	Gigafactory Texas	Austin, Texas, USA
LRW	Gigafactory Shanghai	Shanghai, China
XP7	Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg	Grünheide, Germany
7G2	New US prefix	USA

Positions 4–8: Model, Propulsion and Battery

Tesla uses proprietary coding in the VDS. The 4th character identifies the line (Model S, 3, X, Y, Cybertruck). The 5th marks the propulsion variant (RWD, AWD, Performance). The 8th character often reflects battery chemistry (LFP, NMC or 4680) — critical on the used market.

Battery families commonly read from the VDS:

LFP (lithium iron phosphate)

NMC (nickel manganese cobalt)

4680 (large-format cells (e.g. Cybertruck))

No Stand-Alone Plant Code at Position 11: The WMI Is Enough

At Tesla the plant is read from the prefix: 5YJ = Fremont, 7SA = Austin, LRW = Shanghai, XP7 = Berlin. Some VINs still show a plant-related letter at position 11 (for example B for Berlin in regional builds), but the WMI remains the primary Gigafactory identifier.

5YJ

Fremont Factory

Primary WMI for Fremont-built vehicles

7SA

Gigafactory Texas

Cybertruck; Austin-built Model Y and others

LRW

Gigafactory Shanghai

Model 3, Model Y (incl. Highland for Europe)

XP7

Gigafactory Berlin

Model Y for Europe

7G2

United States (new WMI)

US-market allocation per Tesla assignment

Example: Decoding a Berlin-Built Model Y

XP7 YGCE D 9 R B 123456

XP7

Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg

YGCE

Model Y, Long Range, AWD

Fifth VDS character (proprietary pack / battery-related slot; position 8 of the VIN)

Check digit

2024 model year

Berlin (position 11)

123456

Production sequence number

Every Tesla Line at a Glance

Where it is built and how the VDS behaves.

By model

MODEL	PLANTS / WMI	VDS / NOTES
Model 3 & Model 3 Highland	Fremont (5YJ) or Shanghai (LRW)	Highland (2024+) mainly Shanghai; VDS splits SR+ (LFP), Long Range (NMC), Performance / Ludicrous
Model Y	All four Gigafactories; only Model Y at Berlin (XP7)	European buyers: Berlin vs Shanghai equipment levels can differ
Model S & Model X	Fremont (5YJ) only	Plaid tri-motor has unique VDS; post-2021 refresh differs in VDS
Cybertruck	Austin (7SA) from late 2023	VDS for RWD, AWD, Cyberbeast; first Tesla with 4680 cells

Model 3 and Model 3 Highland

The original Model 3 comes from Fremont (5YJ) or Shanghai (LRW). The Highland facelift (2024+) is produced mainly in Shanghai. VDS codes separate Standard Range Plus (LFP), Long Range (NMC) and Performance / Ludicrous.

Model Y

Built in all four Gigafactories, the Model Y is the only Tesla produced in Berlin (XP7). For a European buyer, Berlin versus Shanghai origin matters because equipment levels can differ.

Model S and Model X

Made exclusively at Fremont (5YJ). Plaid tri-motor versions have dedicated VDS codes. Post-2021 refresh variants are also distinguished in the VDS.

Cybertruck

Assembled in Austin (7SA) since late 2023. VDS codes distinguish RWD, AWD and Cyberbeast. It is the first Tesla to use 4680 cells.

What the Tesla VIN Shows… and What It Hides

Battery chemistry

The VIN encodes cell type (LFP, NMC, 4680) in the VDS. For a used purchase, that affects range and charging behaviour.

Motor layout

RWD, dual-motor AWD / Long Range and tri-motor Plaid read from the 5th and 6th VIN positions (within the VDS structure).

Not in the VIN

Exterior colour, wheels, upholstery, Enhanced Autopilot and FSD (Full Self-Driving) are not in the VIN. They are tied to the Tesla account and internal build records.

Tesla Recalls and OTA Updates

Tesla handles many recalls through over-the-air (OTA) software fixes. Track campaigns at service.tesla.com. In France, RAPEX and the DGCCRF also publish notices — this OTA-heavy approach is still unusual in the industry.

Free Decode vs Full History

Information	Free	Paid
Model, battery, drivetrain	✅	✅
Factory of origin	✅	✅
Autopilot / FSD history	❌	✅
Damage / claims	❌	✅
Mileage	❌	✅
Previous owners	❌	✅
Price	€0	From €1

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Tesla VIN decoder

VIN Number

VIN