Plarail TOMY Thomas NEW RELEASES

Yes, HiT Entertainment is owned by Mattel but they still use the name.

As a Thomas collector, I am not that impressed. I think Mattel's licensing is hitting fairly hard.
20 years ago an engine chase set was around 5000 yen.... and included two motorized and two unmotorized engines, two loops of track, and an automatic switch


Now for 6600 yen we get one motorized engine, a pullback (which, I admit, I don't actually dislike that much since learning it is an episode tie in), and a loop of track with passing siding, all made as small as possible by the use of the new half straight stoper.

The same thing has been happening with Bachmann's Thomas models over the last 20 years. Here are prices from the 2002 catalog, when the range started:

And 2012: (Mattel bought HiT in late 2011, and with it the merchandise rights and control over license fees)

And now last year (2020):

A three times price increase.
The price versus inflation between 2002 and 2012 rose about 16 dollars over inflation (the original 32 dollar price was worth about 40 dollars by 2012), but the 99 dollar list price is more then double the original 32 dollar price tag after inflation (about 46 dollars today).
It seems Mattel has been raising the license fee since taking ownership of HiT. The toys they produce themselves, which is most of them, are obviously not effected by this, but come with their own numerous downsides