[kz1000st]

I just had this subject cleared up for me by way of the Piaggio Fly 150

You're right. The ZAP (World Manufacturer Identifier) part is Italy, and the position numeral 4 is the plant location, and in this case it is China. 5 is Italy.

Here is a link to a letter from Piaggio to the NHTSA. Not the easiest to read (quality). The italian is easy enough to figure out. It gives the answers to many VIN questions (especially as they relate to Piaggio/Vespa).

ftp://safercar.gov/MfrMail/ORG2211.pdf

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic134940

As you see a manufacturer's home location is the important thing in VIN numbers not local content. Chinese built SYMs, Lance, Tomos and all the other Taiwanese designated SYMs are only Taiwanese in name only. They're built in China the same as Tao Tao, Bashan and Znen. Yes, the specs are more precise but the metal is the same.