Is the Avalon Engine Imported?
3 Answers
The Avalon engine is an imported product. Below are the relevant details: 1. The engine and transmission of the Avalon are both manufactured in Japan and shipped to China for assembly in Changshu. Taking the 2021 Avalon as an example, it belongs to the mid-size sedan category, with body dimensions of: length 4975mm, width 1850mm, height 1450mm, a wheelbase of 2870mm, a fuel tank capacity of 60 liters, and a curb weight of 1595kg. 2. The 2021 Avalon features a MacPherson strut front suspension and an E-type multi-link rear suspension. It is equipped with a 2.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 209 PS, a maximum power of 154 kW, and a maximum torque of 250 Nm, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The engine situation for the Avalon depends on the year and configuration. I recently researched this - back in 2019 when it was first domestically produced in China, the 2.5L engines were indeed fully imported, with 'Made in Japan' labels on the engine covers. But starting with the 2021 model year, things changed - most gasoline versions switched to domestically produced engines, with only certain batches retaining imported components. If you visit a dealership recently, salespeople will generally tell you current models primarily use domestic assembly, though some core parts might still be imported. The hybrid version's engine situation is more complex, with some models still using imported components. Honestly, there's not much practical difference between imported and domestic engines - it's mainly a psychological perception issue.
As someone who has long followed Toyota's supply chain, the localization process of the Avalon's engine is quite typical. In the initial domestic production phase in 2019, 100% of the engines were imported, even the screws were shipped by sea. By 2021, after the engine production line at the Tianjin base was debugged, localized production was gradually achieved. Currently, the 2.0L models are basically fully domestically produced, while for the 2.5L models, some components like crankshafts and cylinder blocks still use imported parts, but assembly is completed domestically. The hybrid models are somewhat special, with most electronic control units still being original Japanese imports. It's worth noting that after localization, the price of parts has dropped by about 15%, and the repair waiting period has also shortened.
