Written by MINI cars
MINI cars began with the tiny British Mini of 1959, and today the brand belongs to BMW, which relaunched it in 2001. This guide covers the current MINI lineup, as well as the brand’s history and ownership, its biggest achievements and its rally wins.
MINI cars at a Glance
Launched August 1959 As the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor
Designer Sir Alec Issigonis For the British Motor Corporation
Owner BMW Group Since 1994; new MINI launched in 2001
Main plant Oxford, England Plus Leipzig, Germany and Zhangjiagang, China
Sales 2025 288,290 Up 17.7%; about a third fully electric
Leadership Jean-Philippe Parain Head of MINI since October 2025
MINI cars Model Lineup
MINI cars are sold in a slightly different range in each region, so the list below shows the core models in 2026, grouped by type. Every model is now offered with a gas engine, an electric motor or both. However, the electric Cooper and the Aceman are built in China, so they are not sold in the US, while the Clubman ended production in 2024.
Cooper family (4)
Small hatchback
MINI Cooper 3-door
Gas Front-wheel drive
The Cooper 3-door is the classic MINI shape, and the current gas version arrived in 2024. It is built in Oxford, England, as Cooper C and Cooper S models, depending on the market.
Small hatchback
MINI Cooper 5-door
Gas Five doors
The 5-door adds two rear doors and a little more legroom, so it suits small families. As a result, its sales rose 26.5% in 2025 to 47,850.
Soft-top convertible
MINI Cooper Convertible
Gas Four seats
The latest Convertible arrived in 2024 with a fabric roof that also works as a sunroof. In addition, it sold 22,491 worldwide in 2025.
Electric hatchback
MINI Cooper Electric
Electric Europe & Asia
The electric Cooper, sold as the Cooper E and SE, was launched in 2024 on a new platform. It is built in China with Great Wall Motor, so it is not offered in the US.
Crossovers (2)
Small crossover
MINI Aceman
Electric Europe & Asia
The Aceman is an electric-only crossover that sits between the Cooper and the Countryman. Since 2024 it has been built in China, together with the electric Cooper.
Compact SUV
MINI Countryman
Gas Electric All-wheel drive option
The Countryman is the biggest MINI, and the current model is built in Leipzig, Germany, with gas or electric power. It is also the best-seller, with 93,305 sold in 2025.
John Cooper Works (2)
Hot hatch
MINI John Cooper Works
Gas Electric Performance
John Cooper Works (JCW) is MINI’s performance range. The JCW hatchback comes with a turbocharged gas engine, while a JCW Electric is also sold in Europe.
Performance SUV
MINI JCW Countryman
Gas All-wheel drive
The JCW Countryman is the most powerful gas MINI, and it comes with all-wheel drive as standard. In addition, JCW models set a sales record of 25,630 in 2025.
What Are MINI cars?
MINI cars trace back to the original Mini, which the British Motor Corporation (BMC) launched in August 1959 as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor. Sir Alec Issigonis designed it after the 1956 Suez fuel crisis, and he mounted the engine sideways so that about 80% of the car’s floor was left for people and luggage.
The Mini then became an icon of the 1960s, especially after racing Cooper versions won the Monte Carlo Rally and it starred in the 1969 film The Italian Job. Later it passed to British Leyland and the Rover Group, and about 5.3 million classic Minis were built before production ended in October 2000.
BMW bought the Rover Group in 1994, and when it sold Rover in 2000 it kept the Mini name. Since 2001, BMW has sold MINI cars as a separate brand, built mainly in Oxford. Today the range includes gas, electric and performance models, while in 2025 MINI sold 288,290 cars, about a third of them fully electric.
MINI cars History
MINI cars grew from a small British fuel-saver into a global premium brand owned by BMW.
- 1959 BMC launches the Mini in August, badged as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor.
- 1961 The first Mini Cooper arrives, developed with racing car builder John Cooper.
- 1964 Paddy Hopkirk wins the Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S, and the Mini Moke goes on sale.
- 1967 Rauno Aaltonen then gives the Mini its third Monte Carlo win.
- 1968 BMC becomes part of British Leyland, which keeps building the Mini.
- 1969 Meanwhile, three Minis star in the film The Italian Job.
- 1994 Later, BMW buys the Rover Group, including the Mini.
- 2000 BMW sells Rover but keeps Mini, and the last classic Mini is built at Longbridge in October.
- 2001 Finally, the new BMW-developed MINI goes on sale, built in Oxford.
- 2010 The Countryman arrives as the first MINI with four doors and all-wheel drive.
- 2012 MINI wins the Dakar Rally for the first time, and then wins it again in each of the next three years.
- 2019 The Cooper SE becomes the first fully electric production MINI.
- 2024 A new generation arrives, including the electric Cooper, the Aceman and a new Countryman.
- 2025 MINI sales rise 17.7% to 288,290, while the 100,000th electric MINI of the year is delivered.
- 2026 BMW postpones plans to build electric MINI cars in Oxford, so the electric Cooper stays in China.
Iconic MINI Models
These six cars shaped the story of MINI cars, from the original Mini to the first electric MINI.
1959
Morris Mini-Minor
Original Mini Front-wheel drive
The first Mini was only about 3 meters long, yet it seated four adults. Its sideways engine and front-wheel drive also inspired most small cars that followed.
1963–1971
Mini Cooper S
Rally winner Classic
The Cooper S was the most powerful classic Mini, and it won the Monte Carlo Rally three times. As a result, the Cooper name became part of the brand.
1964–1993
Mini Moke
Open-top Beach car
The Moke began as a light military vehicle, but instead it became a fun open-top car for beaches and holiday resorts. Later it was built in Australia and Portugal as well.
2001–2006
MINI Cooper (R50)
BMW era Built in Oxford
The first BMW-era MINI kept the classic look but grew in size and safety. It was also an instant hit, especially in the US and the UK.
2010–2016
MINI Countryman (R60)
First four-door ALL4
The first Countryman took the brand into the crossover market, and it offered ALL4 all-wheel drive for the first time. It also formed the base of the MINI Dakar cars.
2019–2024
MINI Cooper SE
First electric MINI Built in Oxford
The Cooper SE was the first fully electric production MINI, and it was built in Oxford. It then paved the way for today’s electric range.
Who Owns MINI cars?
MINI cars are made by BMW Group, which has owned the brand since 1994. MINI is not a separate company but one of BMW Group’s three car brands, together with BMW and Rolls-Royce. When AutoGathering has a page for a brand, its name below links to that page.
Parent company BMW Group Munich, Germany · listed in Frankfurt
This page MINI Oxford, Leipzig and Zhangjiagang · MINI and John Cooper Works
Brand John Cooper Works MINI performance sub-brand
Plant Plant Oxford Main MINI factory since 2001
Plant Leipzig Builds the Countryman
Joint venture Spotlight Automotive BMW and Great Wall venture that builds electric MINIs in China
Sister brands
MINI shares engines, electronics and platforms with the other BMW Group brands, so its parts often come from BMW.
- BMW (parent brand)
- Rolls-Royce (BMW Group luxury brand)
- Great Wall Motor (partner in the Spotlight Automotive venture in China)
In addition, MINIs were built under contract in Born, Netherlands, until 2024, and in Graz, Austria, before that.
Former owners
- British Motor Corporation (1959–1968) The company that launched the Mini as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor.
- British Leyland (1968–1986) BMC merged into British Leyland, which later made Mini a brand of its own.
- Rover Group (1986–1994) The renamed British Leyland, then owned by British Aerospace until BMW bought it in 1994.
MINI cars Accomplishments
The record of MINI cars rests on clever small-car design, lasting popularity and some famous rally wins.
5.3 million
Classic Minis built
The original Mini stayed in production from 1959 until 2000, which makes it one of Britain’s best-selling cars.
2nd
Car of the Century poll
In 1999 the Mini came second only to the Ford Model T in the Global Car of the Century vote.
80%
Floor space for people
Because the engine sat sideways, about 80% of the classic Mini’s floor was left for passengers and luggage.
3
Monte Carlo Rally wins
The Mini Cooper S won in 1964, 1965 and 1967, while a fourth win in 1966 was taken away over its headlights.
6
Dakar Rally wins
MINI cars won the Dakar Rally every year from 2012 to 2015, and then again in 2020 and 2021.
288,290
Cars sold in 2025
MINI sales rose 17.7% in 2025, and they grew in every sales region.
105,535
Electric MINIs in 2025
As a result, about a third of all MINI cars sold in 2025 were fully electric.
25,630
JCW models in 2025
John Cooper Works set a sales record, and it made up almost 9% of MINI sales.
MINI Racing History
MINI cars have a rally history that is far bigger than their size. In the 1960s the BMC works team won the Monte Carlo Rally with the Mini Cooper S. Later, the German team X-raid ran MINI rally raid cars, and they won the Dakar Rally six times. Meanwhile, Minis have also raced for decades at British circuits and in one-make series.
Rallying, 1960s
Mini Cooper S at Monte Carlo
3 wins 1964, 1965, 1967
Paddy Hopkirk won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Cooper S, and then Timo Makinen won in 1965 and Rauno Aaltonen in 1967. In 1966 the Minis finished first, second and third, but they were disqualified over their headlights.
Dakar Rally, 2012–2015
MINI ALL4 Racing
4 wins in a row X-raid
Based on the Countryman, the ALL4 Racing won the Dakar Rally four years in a row. Stephane Peterhansel won in 2012 and 2013, while Nani Roma won in 2014 and Nasser Al-Attiyah in 2015.
Dakar Rally, 2020–2021
MINI John Cooper Works Buggy
2 wins Two-wheel drive
The JCW Buggy brought MINI back to the top of the Dakar Rally. Carlos Sainz won with it in 2020, and then Stephane Peterhansel won again in 2021.
Talk MINI With Other Owners
MINI owners have plenty to share, whether it is a restored classic Mini or a new electric Cooper. Soon, AutoGathering will connect this page to a MINI community space where owners and enthusiasts can compare models, share maintenance tips and plan meetups.
- Classic Mini restoration
- JCW and performance
- Electric MINI ownership
- Maintenance and repairs
- Buying used
- Customizing and styling
- MINI clubs and runs
- MINI meets and events
MINI cars FAQ
Who owns MINI cars?
MINI cars are owned and built by BMW Group of Munich, Germany. BMW bought the brand with the Rover Group in 1994, and then it kept MINI when it sold Rover in 2000.
Who designed the original Mini?
Sir Alec Issigonis designed the original Mini for the British Motor Corporation. It went on sale in August 1959, while racing car builder John Cooper later created the sporty Mini Cooper.
Where are MINI cars made?
Most gas-powered MINI Cooper models are built in Oxford, England. The Countryman is built in Leipzig, Germany, while the electric Cooper and the Aceman are made in China by a BMW and Great Wall joint venture.
Is MINI a British or German brand?
MINI began as a British brand, and its main factory is still in Oxford. However, it has been owned by the German BMW Group since 1994, so it is a British-born brand with a German owner.
Why is it called Mini Cooper?
The name comes from John Cooper, whose Formula 1 team won world titles in 1959 and 1960. He worked with BMC on a faster Mini, so the Mini Cooper arrived in 1961, and today most MINI models carry the Cooper name.
Can you buy an electric MINI in the US?
Yes, but only the electric Countryman, because it is built in Germany. The electric Cooper and the Aceman are built in China, so MINI does not sell them in the US.
What is the best-selling MINI?
Worldwide, the Countryman is the best-selling single model, with 93,305 sold in 2025. However, the Cooper family of 3-door, 5-door and Convertible models together sold 162,789.
Did MINI win the Dakar Rally?
Yes, six times. MINI cars run by X-raid won every year from 2012 to 2015 with the ALL4 Racing, and then in 2020 and 2021 with the John Cooper Works Buggy.
Explore More Manufacturers
Compare MINI cars with its sister brands and its biggest rivals.
Photo credits
- Header image: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- MINI Cooper 3-door (F66) hatchback in Stuttgart: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Midnight Black MINI Cooper S 5-door (F65)…: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- MINI Cooper Convertible (F67) with JCW trim…: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Electric MINI Cooper (J01) at Ditzingen Mobil: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- MINI Aceman electric crossover: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Current-generation MINI Countryman (U25) in Leonberg, Germany: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- MINI John Cooper Works 3-door (F66) in…: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- MINI John Cooper Works Countryman (U25) in…: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 1959 Morris Mini-Minor, one of the first…: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 2.5, cropped and resized.
- Morris Mini Cooper S at Techno-Classica 2018…: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 1967 Austin Mini Moke at the Lane…: TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- First-generation BMW-era MINI Cooper (R50), built 2001…: Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, cropped and resized.
- First-generation MINI Countryman (R60) in Cosmic Blue…: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2021 MINI Cooper SE electric hatchback (F56)…: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- The Mini Cooper S that won the…: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- MINI ALL4 Racing Dakar rally car at…: Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- MINI John Cooper Works Buggy rally raid…: Thomas Vogt from Paderborn, Deutschland, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.