Centy Toys (registered as Centy India Private Limited) is an Indian toy manufacturing company based in New Delhi. Established in 1990, the company primarily produces plastic scale models and pull-back miniatures of Indian automobiles and commercial vehicles.
History and operations
Centy Toys was founded in 1990 by brothers Savinder, Balwinder, and Davinder Singh. The company's initial products were scale models of early Indian passenger vehicles, specifically the Maruti Omni and the Premier Padmini.
The company operates a primary manufacturing facility in Bawana, Delhi, and a secondary production unit in Khushkhera, Rajasthan. The manufacturing process involves localized supply chains for raw materials and standardized mechanical components, such as pull-back motors, which are shared across multiple vehicle models.
Products
The company manufactures over 100 variants of plastic toy vehicles. The product range includes miniature passenger cars, auto-rickshaws, low-floor transit buses, and freight vehicles. In addition to consumer retail toys, Centy Toys has manufactured promotional scale models for Indian automotive manufacturers, including Ashok Leyland and Sonalika Tractors.
The toys are manufactured to comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) safety testing regulations.
See also
- Die-cast toy
- Model commercial vehicle
History
Centy Toys was founded in 1990 by three brothers: Savinder Singh, Balwinder Singh, and Davinder Singh, who shared a background in engineering and a childhood hobby of crafting wooden car and bus models. The name "Centy" is derived from the word "centimeters," referencing the brand's focus on exact scale and ratio markups in their miniature models.
The company initially gained popularity by manufacturing scale models of early iconic Indian vehicles, such as the Maruti Omni (Maruti Van) and Premier Padmini. Over the decades, it expanded its portfolio to over 100 variants of pull-back action plastic toys, including cars, trucks, buses, auto-rickshaws, and aviation models like airplanes and helicopters. In 2019, Centy Toys launched its first battery-operated toy train set designed around Indian locomotive engines.
In December 2022, the brand was officially registered as a private limited company under the name Centy India Private Limited.
Manufacturing and Products
Centy Toys has a primary manufacturing facility located in Bawana, near New Delhi, with another expansion unit in Khushkhera, Rajasthan. The company operates similarly to real-world automotive manufacturers by utilizing a local supplier park for rapid procurement of raw materials and standardizing common components like wheels and pull-back mechanisms across different models.
Their main product categories include:
- Wheel Force: Miniatures of popular Indian cars, SUVs, and motorcycles.
- Public Commuters: Scale models of taxis, auto-rickshaws, and low-floor city buses.
- Dig & Build / Tiny Truckies: Construction and commercial freight vehicles.
- Emergency Squad: Replicas of Indian police cruisers, ambulances, and fire engines.
The brand has also partnered with prominent Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in India, including Ashok Leyland and Sonalika Tractors, to create official promotional scale models.
Safety and Certifications
To comply with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and compete globally, Centy Toys conducts extensive in-house and third-party safety testing. The toys are subjected to drop tests, compression tests, tension tests, and torque tests to ensure structural integrity and the absence of choking hazards. The brand’s products meet both Indian safety standards (IS 9873) and international benchmarks, including the European standard EN71 (Parts 1, 2, and 3), the American standard ASTM F963, and AUS/NZ standards.
See also
- Die-cast toy
- Model commercial vehicle
- Make in India