Final answer:
The 10th character in the 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) identifies the model year of the vehicle. The VIN uses particular alphanumeric characters to represent the model year, with letters from A to Y representing the years 1980 to 2000 and numbers from 1 to 9 for 2001 to 2009, with a new cycle beginning in 2010.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the vehicle identification number (VIN), which is a unique code including a serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles, there are 17 alphanumeric characters. Each character in the VIN serves a specific purpose, giving details about the vehicle, and one particular character is designated to identify the model year of the vehicle. This is the 10th character in the VIN. The coding for model years started in 1980 with the letter 'A' and ended with 'Y' in 2000, then it continued from 2001 with the digit '1' and continued sequentially to '9' for the year 2009. After 2009, the alphabet cycle resumed with the letter 'A' for 2010, skipping 'I', 'O', 'Q', 'U', and 'Z' because they can be easily confused with numbers.
It's important to note that the VIN does not use the letters I, O, Q, U, and Z, and does not include the letter 'O' or number '0' at any VIN position to avoid confusion. The rest of the characters in the VIN provide other important information about the vehicle, such as the country of manufacture, the manufacturer, the vehicle type and model, and the production serial number.
Interpreting the VIN correctly is vital for various reasons, including vehicle registration, title applications, and also for law enforcement purposes. Knowing how to decode each section can provide valuable information about the vehicle's history, features, and authenticity.