The Volkswagen Jetta is a compact car that was introduced to North America in 1985.
This sedan is known to represent Volkswagen’s timeless design, and possess a powerful and efficient turbo engine.
If you are in search of a car that is a workhorse and gets the everyday job done, then consider this as a viable option.
If you would like to know where Volkswagen Jettas are made, read on to find out!
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Where are VW Jettas Being Made?
The Volkswagen Jetta is made in Puebla, Mexico and Chengdu, China. Specifically, the Jetta is manufactured at the Volkswagen Puebla Assembly Plant under Volkswagen Mexico and the Chengdu Assembly Plant under FAW-Volkswagen.
The Puebla Plant in Mexico has a rich history as it was the location where the first generations of the Beetle were produced.
In 2019 alone, almost half a million VW units were completely built in this plant, making it one of the most important contributors to Volkswagen’s North American and global success.
The Chengdu Plant in China was the first manufacturing base outside of Changchun City (location of the FAW-Volkswagen HQ) and has produced several Volkswagen units.
This plant is the only plant in China that assembles and produces the Volkswagen Jetta. Currently, the plant is in charge of producing the following Jetta variants:
- Jetta VA3
- Jetta VS5
- Jetta VS7
- Sagitar A7 (China’s badge for the Jetta)
Are Jettas for the US Market Produced in the US?
The current Jettas being offered in dealerships in the US market are not produced in the US. These models are manufactured in Mexico.
The seventh generation Jettas have originated from the Volkswagen Puebla Plant in Mexico since the second quarter of 2018.
In collaboration with the First Automobile Works (FAW Group Corporation) through a joint venture agreement, Jettas are also made in China for the overseas markets.
You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do VW Jetta’s Last?
How Can You Check Where a Specific Jetta Was Produced
To identify where your Volkswagen Jetta was produced, refer to the first three digits of your car’s VIN (vehicle identification number) to obtain the country of origin, manufacturer, and vehicle classification.
A VIN is a 17-character alphanumeric code that is used to identify disgintuishing information about your vehicle.
For Volkswagen vehicles, the VIN is split into three categories:
- Digits 1 – 3: World Manufacturer Identifier
- Digits 4 – 9: Vehicle Descriptor Section
- Digits 10 – 17: Vehicle Identifier Section
The first digit of your Jetta’s VIN would identify where it was made. Generally, the codes for Volkswagen units are found in the table below:
| Character | Country of Origin |
| A – H | Africa |
| J – R | Asia |
| S – Z | Europe |
| 1 – 5 | North America |
| 6 – 7 | Oceania |
| 8 – 0 | South America |
Alternatively, you can ask your dealer or aftersales advisor where your vehicle was produced or manufactured.
Are Japanese-built Volkswagen Jettas Better than European-built Volkswagen Jettas?
Volkswagen Jettas have never been produced or assembled in Japan.
It would be impossible to compare the two.
However, early generations of the Jetta (first generation – fourth generation) were produced and assembled in Europe, specifically in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Please also read our article: Volkswagen Jetta in snow and winter driving
Where is the Volkswagen Jetta Designed?
The modern-day Jetta is based on the ‘MQB’ platform designed by Ulrich Hackenburg, former Development Leader of Volkswagen, based in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The current Jetta’s predecessor, the Jetta A6 (sixth generation), was mainly designed by Volkswagen Mexico under the supervision of Volkswagen AG.
Where are the Jettas Made for the Australian Market?
Currently, Volkswagen Australia does not offer the Volkswagen Jetta locally.
As of this year, the current offering of Volkswagen models in Australia are the following:
- Golf
- MY20 Golf R
- Golf Wagon
- Tiguan (with Allspace variant)
- Amarok (with V6 W580 variant)
- Polo
- New Passat
- T-Cross
- T-Roc
- Touareg
- California
- Multivan
- Caravelle
- Caddy
- Caddy Van
- Transporter (with Cab Chassis variant)
- Crafter Van (with Cab Chassis variant)
If you would like to acquire a Jetta in Australia, ask your local dealer if they facilitate indent or import orders.
Where are the Jettas Made for the Canadian Market?
The Jettas currently offered in Canada originate from the Puebla Plant in Mexico.
As of this year, Volkswagen Canada offers the following models:
- Jetta
- Jetta GLI
- Arteon
- e-Golf
- Passat
- Golf
- Golf GTI
- Atlas (with Cross Sport variant)
- Taos
- Tiguan
- ID. 4
Where are Jettas Made for the UK Market?
Currently, Volkswagen UK does not offer the Volkswagen Jetta locally.
Its current mass-market offering includes the following models:
- Golf
- Polo
- Passat Estate
- Tiguan
- Up!
- ID. 3
- ID. 4
If you live in the UK and are in search of a brand new Volkswagen Jetta, visit your local dealer and ask for importation options.
Is Volkswagen Planning to Move its Production of Jettas?
Volkswagen AG, the parent company of Volkswagen, has made no official announcements regarding the transfer of production lines for the Jetta.
Both the Puebla Plant in Mexico and the Chengdu Plant in China have been producing volumes of seventh generation Jettas since 2018 and 2019, respectively.
However, due to a global shortage of semiconductors as a result of the pandemic, Volkswagen’s plant in Mexico has made adjustments to their schedule of Jetta production.
You may also be interested in our article: 11 Volkswagen Jetta Facts & Statistics You Should Know
Is Volkswagen Hiring or Firing in the US?
The Volkswagen Group of America, subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, has posted several job openings on their website.
It must be noted, however, that Volkswagen AG has entered into talks with worker unions and employees regarding the lay off of thousands of employees to free up funds for investment into electric vehicles (EV).
The news reports did not mention which locations in the world would be affected by these lay offs.
Is Volkswagen an American Company?
Volkswagen, or its parent company Volkswagen AG, has never been identified to be an American company. It has always been a German company.
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer founded in 1937 by the German government.
The headquarters of Volkswagen AG is located in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Volkswagen has several assembly plants in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Volkswagen AG owns twelve automotive brands:
- Volkswagen
- Audi
- Seat
- Škoda
- Bentley
- Bugatti
- Lamborghini
- Porsche
- Ducati
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
- Scania
- MAN
Volkswagen Group of America, Volkswagen AG’s subsidiary, handles the following brands in the US:
- Volkswagen
- Audi
- Bentley
- Bugatti
- Lamborghini
Related: 7 Most Common Volkswagen Jetta Problems (Explained)
Resources
https://www.vw.com/en/models/jetta.html
