World's No.1* Die-cast Car Brand "Hot Wheels" Donates Mini Cars to Approximately 2,600 Children's Centers Nationwide, with the message of "Find what you love and challenge yourself"
Mattel International, the Japanese subsidiary of global toy manufacturer Mattel, has donated Hot Wheels basic cars and Monster Trucks to approximately 2,600 children's centers nationwide. This initiative, in collaboration with the Japan Foundation for the Promotion of Children's Sound Development, aims to foster children's healthy growth by encouraging them to discover their passions and embrace challenges through imaginative play. The donation, totaling about 13,000 units, coincides with spring, a season when children embark on new environments.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 9, 2026 at 12:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 10:26 (213h 56m after Collected)
Mattel International Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Keizo Ishii; hereinafter, Mattel), the Japanese subsidiary of the world's leading toy manufacturer, U.S. Mattel, Inc., empathizes with the activities of the Japan Foundation for the Promotion of Children's Sound Development (https://www.jidoukan.or.jp/), which promotes healthy upbringing activities for children. In line with this, Mattel will donate basic cars and Monster Trucks from "Hot Wheels," the world's No. 1* die-cast car brand, to approximately 2,600 children's centers nationwide.
*Source: Circana/Retail Tracking Service/G12/JAN-DEC 2023/Total Toys/Projected Units
【Point】
✓ Hot Wheels is not just a "toy" brand;
It is a brand that conveys the importance of "finding what you love and challenging yourself" in over 150 countries worldwide.
✓ Deeply empathizing with the activities of the Japan Foundation for the Promotion of Children's Sound Development, which aims to improve the sound physical and mental development and welfare of children,
Hot Wheels will be donated to approximately 2,600 children's centers nationwide.
✓ In the spring season, when children step into new environments due to school advancement and enrollment,
It provides an opportunity to discover their "likes" through freely imaginative designs and dynamic play, and to foster a challenging spirit and the ability to express their individuality with respect.
【Thoughts on the Donation to Children's Centers】
Mattel deeply sympathizes with the concept of sound development, which aims to "preserve the lives and emotional stability of all children and nurture them holistically and healthily according to their individual personalities and developmental stages," and the activities of the Japan Foundation for the Promotion of Children's Sound Development, which promotes this concept. Therefore, we are donating Hot Wheels products to children's centers nationwide. Since its launch in 1968, Hot Wheels has been a brand loved by children and adults in over 150 countries, with a history of over 55 years. More than just a "toy" brand, it is a lifestyle brand encompassing toys, content, games, events, and apparel, conveying the importance of "finding what you love and challenging yourself" based on three DNA elements related to "love." We believe that the experience of encountering Hot Wheels' freely imaginative designs and dynamic play during a child's developmental stage will empower them to discover their "likes" and support their "challenges" to pursue their passions. Furthermore, we hope that through diverse play, they will learn to respect individual differences and feelings, and find ways to express themselves. In this season when children embark on new environments, we aim for playtime with Hot Wheels to contribute to the healthy growth and rich emotional development of the children who will shape the future.
【Hot Wheels Brand DNA】
COMPETITION: Awakening to "Likes"
Through the brand, connecting with others and discovering oneself through relationships with those around them.
EXPERIMENTATION: Persisting in "Likes"
Not stopping at a single challenge, but repeatedly trying without giving up, learning the importance and methods of pursuing one's passions.
CREATIVITY: Expressing "Likes"
Positively embracing one's own thoughts and individuality, and learning how to convey them externally.
【Donation Overview】
Donated items: Approximately 13,000 Hot Wheels basic cars and Monster Trucks in total.
Play sets that allow play with both basic cars and Monster Trucks
(Scheduled to be donated three times a year to 100 facilities selected by lottery)
Target recipients: Approximately 2,600 children's centers that are facility members of the Japan Foundation for the Promotion of Children's Sound Development
Implementation period: Sequentially from a lucky day in March 2026
About Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels is the world's best-selling die-cast car brand, with 8 billion units manufactured to date. It was created by Mattel founders, Ruth and Elliot Handler, with the idea of launching the next product to stimulate children's creativity after Barbie. Since 1968, over 1,000 car models and 2,000 variations have appeared. Hot Wheels manufactures over 8 million products every week and sells 16 units per second worldwide, making it a widely popular and best-selling brand among children and adults globally.
Official Facebook (Japanese) https://www.facebook.com/HotWheelsJapan/
Official YouTube channel (Japanese) https://www.youtube.com/c/HotWheels%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E/featured
※Some products in these videos and images may not be available in Japan.
About Mattel
Mattel is a world-leading toy and family entertainment company, with one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We offer toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences through popular brands from global entertainment companies, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Matchbox®, MEGA®, Polly Pocket®, and Masters of the Universe®, among others. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel has been a trusted partner to everyone, proudly striving to keep alive the curiosity everyone was passionate about as a child.
Official website: http://www.mattel.co.jp/