Hot Wheels die-cast cars

Hot Wheels is one of the most iconic toy brands in history, originally launched by Mattel in 1968. Created by Elliot Handler to compete with the British brand Matchbox, Hot Wheels revolutionized the toy car market with their unique 'California Custom' styling and low-friction axles designed for speed on plastic track sets.

While the brand was born and engineered in the United States, production has shifted globally over the decades. Today, the vast majority of mainline Hot Wheels are manufactured in Mattel's specialized factories in Malaysia and Thailand, with additional production lines in Indonesia and China. The brand remains the flagship of Mattel's vehicle category, maintaining its position as the world's best-selling toy through constant innovation and licensing partnerships with major automotive manufacturers.