More Duplication…

Matchbox MB726 : Audi R8 (2011 Basic Range & France Collection)

As part of the France Collection of vehicles there is more duplication or should I say resurrection of older castings.  At #4 in the range there is the MB726 : Audi R8 in red, this car first saw the light of day as part of the 2011 basic range.

The next is the MB896 : Range Rover Evoque in blue, this model is #6 in the France Collection but has also appeared in 2 different 9 Packs in 2018 as well as a 5 Pack in the same year.

With so many vehicles appearing in multiple ranges this year (2021) and being from years ago, I wonder if there is another reason for this to be happening.  Is it because there is only 1 person in the Mattel Matchbox design team at the moment or is there another issue at play?

Matchbox MB896 : 2015 Range Rover Evoque (2018 5 Pack, 9 Packs & France Collection)

As I look at more and more of the modern releases it appears to me that certainly this year there is a lot of repetition and resurrection and I have started to think that maybe it is more than just a cost cutting or staffing issue at Mattel.

With what seems to be a majority of businesses of all types all over the world being restricted in their operations on and off for nearly 18 months now due to the Covid 19 pandemic I have started to wonder if this may be the reason or a part of the reason for these repeats and resurected Matchbox cars.

I know from my own job that a lot of various items have production issues and Mattel maybe are releasing these previously approved models in new or updated packaging as the people involved in the approvals and design process may not be workign to full capacity.

Matchbox MB726 : Audi R8 (France Collection)

Matchbox MB896 : 2015 Range Rover Evoque (France Collection)

So tell me, what do you think? Is it nothing more than a cost cutting exercise or has the dreaded Covid effected the production of Matchbox cars