Is RC Car Hobby Dying? A Full Research On Our Hobby (2023)

Today, major competitions exist in the RC industry making new enthusiasts wonder about the possibility of RC car racing losing its touch. But, while several varying factors including, pricing, a wide difference between toy-grade and hobby-grade versions, and the Internet may be affecting the number of new hobby enthusiasts, the RC hobby is still very much alive than ever. 

The answer to whether the RC car hobby is dying out is an emphatic no. Recent statistics reveal that in 2020, approximately 14.1 million British pounds (GBP) worth of electric model trains and construction toys were sold by UK manufacturers alone. 

Are RC Cars Still Popular?

If you’re an RC car hobbyist, you’ll be happy to know that RC cars are extremely popular, even among youths and adults.
In 2018, RC cars were more popular among people within the age group 18 to 34 years. Three years later, and their popularity seems to skyrocket even more. 

RC cars are great hobby gears for people within every age group to help them have fun and hang out with loved ones.
Plus, when it comes to toy cars and product types, RC cars hold the highest values among manufacturers. 

How Many RC Cars Are Sold Each Year?

Every year, thousands of RC cars are sold all over the world. In 2018, over 3,358 RC cars were sold.
2019 saw a significant increase with an average of 4,591 RC cars sold, an increase of 37%. 

How Big Is the RC Market?

By region, the RC market dominates almost every part of the globe.
In North America, US and Canada retain dominance of the hobby market.
In Europe, Germany, France, and United Kingdom are some of the noteworthy manufactures.
Brazil, Mexico, and the rest of South American countries also deal in the RC market. Talk about the Middle East and Africa and you’d see that the entirety of the region favors RC cars, with South Africa and GCC countries like Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates leading the hobby market.  

Apart from these regions, Asia Pacific leads the production of remote-controlled products, with countries like China, India, and Japan being some of the major manufacturers. Statistics even reveal that the Asia Pacific region accounts for more than 20% of the global RC hobby market. 

So, if you wonder how big the RC market is, you want to know that remote control hobby grade products can be gotten in almost all parts of the world, with Asia taking the lead in the industry. 

Is RC Car Racing Dying?

According to a report by TMR, RC car racing events across all categories will continue to rise in frequency. Yearly, the number of raving events continues to increase around the world.
Even countries like China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UK notice a significant high in RC car racing events yearly. 

Do People Race With RC Cars?

Every year, hundreds of RC car racing events take place globally. In the US alone, more than 19 top-level racing events were registered during the first half of the year 2020.

In the US, you won’t need a license to race an RC car. However, you may need to get a license for an organized group race. In countries like the UK, some tracks allow license-free racing. But, to race legally, RC hobbyists would need a British Radio Control Car Association License to race RC cars. This simply means that your geographical region will determine how you race RC cars. 

Why Do People Love RC Cars?

One primary reason many people love RC cars is that they are fun.
There’s nothing more satisfying than an adrenaline race with a speed of more than 60mph.
Another reason is that it fuels competition. Just like video games which can be fun but also competitive, remote-controlled cars offers hobbyists a chance to compete in a fun way.
RC cars also connect people and promote active conversation between different personalities. It’s no wonder you’ll find people from different age groups from below 18 years to people above 54years engaging in recreational sessions with an RC car.
Lastly, RC cars require a lot of maintenance, fixing, customization, and attention which makes them appealing to many people.

Is RC Nitro Dead? Are Electric Cars Killing Nitro?

Today, electric cars are making waves in the remote-controlled hobby market, with brands like Traxxas, Arrma, HPI, and many others leading the industry. The fastest RC car that hit a record speed of 202mph was even an electric car.
However, that does not mean RC nitro cars are dead. They differ in motors, engines, chassis, handling process, weight, fuel and battery pack, and other outstanding features. Even with these distinguishing features nitro cars still work exceptionally on the race track and on daily use. 

While people may believe nitro is dead because of electric RC cars, it’s important to remember that nitro gives hobbyists a sensational feeling. Nitro RC cars are here to stay, and it doesn’t look like it’s going somewhere in the coming years. 

How Did Covid-19 Affect the Hobby?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, people had no choice but to sit at home. Even hobby manufacturers had to size production, gambling on their resumption sales capacity. People with hobby-grade toys could keep themselves busy at home while others without them couldn’t.
The good news, after weeks of staying at home, the hobby market more than doubled in revenue. In April 2020, TMX research even predict the hobby market to reach an all-time high of $2billion by 2027

Conclusion 

RC car production had its ups and downs, and at covid-19 years it definitely struggled. However, as the numbers suggest, the hobby is growing each year and is expected to reach new heights of sales, events, and hobbyists. Therefore we can say that the RC car hobby is far from dying off.