YS3 — Saab
A VIN beginning YS3 identifies a vehicle built by Saab in Sweden, covering 9-3 and 9-5, discontinued in 2012. The first character, Y, is the region marker; the two that follow narrow it to the manufacturer and division.
Also built in Sweden
Questions
›What car has a VIN starting with YS3?
A Saab built in Sweden — typically 9-3 and 9-5, discontinued in 2012. The three characters identify the manufacturer and plant region, not the specific model; characters 4–8 describe the model itself.
›Is YS3 the same as the country of origin?
The first character alone gives the region — Y indicates Sweden. All three together identify the specific manufacturer and division within it.
›Can I tell the model year from YS3?
No. The WMI says who built the vehicle, not when. Character 10 carries the model year, and character 7 helps resolve which of its two possible years applies.