Mattel To Create Proton Saga Hot Wheels Toy Commemorating Its 40th Anniversary In Malaysia
This officiates the Proton Saga as the first Malaysian car to make it into the Hot Wheels brand.
The most popular toy car brand in the world has just made history, after introducing a local Malaysian car into their line
American toy manufacturer, Mattel, who introduced arguably the most popular toy car line in the world, Hot Wheels, has just announced that they will be making a toy model of Malaysia's first national car, the Proton Saga.
Announcing a partnership with Proton, the model is expected to be produced in a scale of 1:64.
A model of the prospective Proton Saga Hot Wheels toy.
According to the president of Mattel Inc, Steve Totzke, the creation was initiated to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the brand in Malaysia
"This is an exciting license partnership as we join to develop a Hot Wheels car, modelled after the original Proton Saga, the first model manufactured by Proton, which will now become a part of Hot Wheels' singles collection," Totzke said in his speech yesterday, 6 December, celebrating Mattel's 40th anniversary in Malaysia.
The celebration itself was conducted at the Mattel plant located in Perai, Penang, known as Mattel Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MMSB), established in 1981.
As stated by Piston Automotive News, the factory is the world's only manufacturer of Hot Wheels singles, which itself was the top-selling toy globally for 2021. Currently, the plant produces around nine million die-cast car models each week for markets around the world.
Totzke (third from left) and Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow (third from right) posing with the 1st Generation 1985 Proton Saga at the plant.
Furthermore, a report by Malaysian automotive news site, AutoBuzz, stated that Mattel also announced an expansion in its operations through an expansion of the plant, due to be completed in 2023.
The expansion will see a production capacity increase to over half a billion Hot Wheels cars per year by 2025, a 20% overall output increase.
Prototype toy models of the 1st Generation 1985 Proton Saga were also on display at the plant, in red, white, and brown
Image via Engear.tv
Toktzke also stated that since the Proton Saga was the first car produced by a Malaysian automotive brand, it played a crucial role in the growth of Malaysia's economy.
"This license partnership aims to uphold the proud legacies of both Mattel and Proton to continue to provide high-quality vehicles to fans of all ages worldwide," he said.
Image via Free Malaysia Today (FMT)
Based on an account by Bernama, the Proton Saga Hot Wheels toy is expected to start shipping and be sold worldwide by the end of 2023.
One Malaysian man explained why his still drives his trusted 21-year-old Proton Saga:
A year ago, this Black Knight Edition Proton Saga won a classic car competition in the UK:
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