Here's the clearest indication that the locally-assembled (CKD) Mk8 Volkswagen Golf will be launched in Malaysia soon, as spy photos taken by an anonymous reader included a shot of the Golf’s vehicle identification number, or VIN in short.

The vehicle’s VIN is essentially your car’s IC number and it contains a bunch of useful information, like fitted options to the vehicle, body colour, and origin of vehicle.

Also Read: VIN, it's your car's 'IC number' and here's how to find it

In the case of the Mk8 Golf GTI, its VIN starts with PPV, indicating that local assembly (CKD) production of the hot hatch has started at Volkswagen’s plant in Pekan, Pahang. PPV is Volkswagen Malaysia’s unique identifier.

Also Read: Spied: CKD 2021 VW Golf GTI Mk8 spotted in Malaysia, to be launched by end of the year?

This would also mean that the standard Golf is likely to be locally assembled too. This would be the first time the Golf has been assembled in Malaysia since the Mk1 back in the 1970s.

Two variants of the Mk8 Golf were spotted by a reader yesterday, a regular Golf TSI and the hotter Golf GTI. The presence of both Golfs on a trailer is a hint that Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is gearing up for a launch pretty soon.

Also Read: One step closer to Malaysia, Mk8 VW Golf makes market debut in Australia

Some markets like Australia offer the regular Golf with a 1.4 TSI engine (150 PS/250 Nm) while other markets like Thailand offer the newer 1.5-litre TSI unit (150 PS/250 Nm). It remains to be seen which engine will be offered on the made-in-Pekan Golf.

As for the Golf GTI, it is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (245 PS/370 Nm) and is paired with a 7-speed DSG.

Other locally-assembled Volkswagen models include the Volkswagen Tiguan, Volkswagen Passat, and Volkswagen Arteon. The smaller Polo and Vento have been discontinued.