MINI

MINI

🇬🇧 UK

British small-car brand relaunched by BMW in 2001, built on the heritage of the original 1959 Mini. Known for the Cooper hatchback and its go-kart-style handling, now spanning petrol and fully electric models.

MINI models
Cooper 3-door
ICE
Cooper 3-door

The F66-generation MINI Cooper 3-door pairs a 154 hp Cooper C with a 201 hp Cooper S, both petrol turbos with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. UK prices start from £25,485.

154 hp FWD
Explainers
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Europe's Car Brands: The Ownership Structure

Most European badges trace back to about five mega-groups - Volkswagen, Stellantis, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Renault. But several beloved European brands are now owned abroad, in China, India and the UAE, and a few Chinese and joint-venture names now sell under European flags. Here is who owns what in 2026.

Market Data
Jaecoo 7 breaks into the UK's top three car sales, a year after launch
Stats
UK
Jaecoo 7 breaks into the UK's top three car sales, a year after launch

The UK's new-car market grew 9.2% in the first half of 2026, but the standout was the Jaecoo 7 - a Chinese SUV that only reached UK showrooms in 2025, and already the country's third best-selling car.

About

MINI as a standalone brand dates to 2001, when BMW launched a new car under the name it had acquired in 1994 as part of the Rover Group breakup. The original Mini, designed by Alec Issigonis and built from 1959 under the Austin and Morris names, only became a marque in its own right in 1969; BMW’s modern MINI shares none of that car’s engineering but leans heavily on its design language and “go-kart” handling reputation.

Modern MINI production is centered at BMW’s Plant Oxford in England, which has built cars on the same site since 1913. The current lineup pairs petrol three- and five-door Cooper hatchbacks and a convertible with fully electric Cooper, Aceman and Countryman models, positioning MINI as BMW Group’s premium small-car brand alongside its EV expansion.

Frequently asked questions
Who owns MINI?
MINI is owned by BMW Group.
What country is MINI from?
MINI is a British brand, headquartered in Oxford.
When was MINI founded?
MINI was founded in 2001.
What kind of cars does MINI make?
MINI makes small hatchbacks, convertibles and crossovers.
Is the modern MINI related to the original 1959 Mini?
Only in name and design inspiration. BMW acquired the Mini nameplate in 1994 as part of the Rover Group and launched an entirely new, BMW-engineered car under the MINI brand in 2001; none of the original car's underpinnings carried over.
Where are MINI cars built?
Petrol MINI hatchbacks and convertibles are built at BMW's Plant Oxford in England. Some electric models and China-market cars are produced at other BMW Group or joint-venture plants outside the UK.
Does MINI make electric cars?
Yes. Alongside petrol Cooper models, MINI sells fully electric versions of the Cooper hatchback and the larger Aceman and Countryman, part of BMW Group's broader push into EVs.
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