Miniatures move millions – as toys, as collectables and as a driver of the economy. The global market for model vehicles is estimated to be around 5 billion US dollars. Around 150 million models are produced every year, from inexpensive toy cars to strictly limited small-series editions. While major manufacturers such as Majorette produce on an industrial scale, specialist workshops often make only a few dozen examples of a given model.

The roots of this market go back to the 19th century. Tin and sheet-metal toys sparked early enthusiasm; in the 1950s, brands such as Dinky Toys and Matchbox, shaped entire childhoods. Since the 1990s, mass production of models in plastic and die-cast metal has taken place predominantly in Asia: first in China, and more recently in Bangladesh. Small series models continue to be produced in Europe though, often using higher-grade materials such as resin or white metal.

The model vehicle market is constantly changing; rising raw material prices, fragile supply chains and political uncertainties all influence production and variety. Manufacturing is being relocated, in some cases, production runs are becoming smaller, materials are becoming more sustainable and distribution channels more digital. Where this development will lead is determined by availability, costs and the wishes of people who play with these models and those who collect them.

Size Comes at a Price

Transport costs from Asia also have a direct impact on model prices. Before 2020, a shipping container cost around 1,800–2,500 US dollars; during the pandemic, prices temporarily rose to about 20,000 US dollars, and today they are back at roughly 3,500–4,000 US dollars. Such jumps hit the larger scales particularly hard: 1:43 models fit into a container in large quantities, whereas 1:12 models with their large boxes carry the freight costs directly into the final retail price.