How come model years and actual years of production sometimes not coincide?

[Robbieraeful]

I've wondered this because I started to wonder if a 1996 model year school bus or car was really delivered in 1996 or the year before. How come model years and actual years of production sometimes not coincide?

[J]

for many decades the next model year vehicles were officially available in September

eg: 1990 MY, started sales & production in Sep 1989

however that has become very vague now as i have observed vehicles of say MY 2014, actually released in Mar 2013

the best thing to do, is to decode the VIN on the door jamb as well as the actual production date- this also offers a margin of safety in obtaining parts as certain parts changed from one month to another

eg: I have seen a titled 1996 MY Audi A6 Quattro, that had a production date of mid 1995

delivery dates can be another issue, in that a dealer may have old inventory (2 MY old vehicle) still on his lot available as a new vehicle- this happens most times, because it is a poor seller or has too much or too little accessories-- eventually the dealer reduces the price enough to move it

if someone claims this as a selling point on a used car, remember they got a great deal when buying it, and if they claim it is still under warranty, you should get a copy of the sales contract for verification