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First character

VIN prefixes starting with K

In NHTSA's catalog, 26 three-character WMIs start with K, the 14th-largest group of any first character. Of these, 77 percent are registered in South Korea, followed by the United States (1). By vehicle type, passenger cars lead with 10 codes; KM4 names the most models (123). There are also 7 six-character codes that begin with K and carry a 9 in position 3.

Countries of registration

  1. South Korea20
  2. No country stated4
  3. United States1
  4. Israel1

Holders with the most codes

  1. Hyundai Motor7
  2. General Motors5
  3. Kia2
  4. Ulb2
  5. Freightliner1
  6. Suzuki Motor of America1
  7. GM Daewoo Auto & Technology1
  8. Advanced Transportation Technology R&D1
  9. Hyosung Motors & Machinery1
  10. Kr Motors1

Profiled codes, longest model lists first

CodeHolderMakesModel yearsModels
KM4Kr MotorsHyosung Motors & Machinery, KR Motors, Suzuki1985–2016123
KMHHyundai MotorGenesis, Hyundai1986–open28
KM8Hyundai MotorHyundai2001–open17
KNAKiaKia1993–open17
KNDKiaHyundai, Kia1995–open17

All 26 codes starting with K

K 26

  • KFBFreightliner
  • KL1General Motors
  • KL2General Motors
  • KL4General Motors
  • KL5Suzuki Motor of America
  • KL7General Motors
  • KL8General Motors
  • KLAGM Daewoo Auto & Technology
  • KLMAdvanced Transportation Technology R&D
  • KM1Hyosung Motors & Machinery
  • KM4Kr Motors
  • KM8Hyundai Motor
  • KMEHyundai Motor
  • KMFHyundai Motor
  • KMHHyundai Motor
  • KMTHyundai Motor
  • KMUHyundai Motor
  • KMYDaelim Motor
  • KNAKia
  • KNDKia
  • KNJKia Motors (ford Imports)
  • KNMRenault Samsung Motors
  • KPHHyundai Motor
  • KPSSsangyong Motor
  • KUSUlb
  • KUTUlb

Source: NHTSA vPIC, October 2026 release (database updated October 17, 2026). How the figures are counted: How the catalog is read.