Mini Cooper

Mini is an English automotive marque specialised in small cars, founded in 1969, subsidiary of BMW since 1994.

The original Mini was a line of iconic British small cars manufactured by the British Motor Corporation, and its successors, from 1959 until 2000. Their models included the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, the Countryman, Moke, 1275GT and Clubman.Performance versions of these models used the name Cooper, due to a partnership with racing legend John Cooper. The original two-door Mini continued in production until 2000. Development of a successor began in 1995 and the new generation car was launched in 2001. The current Mini range includes the Hardtop/Hatch/Convertible (three-door hatchback), Clubman (estate), Countryman (five-door crossover), Coupe/Roadster and Paceman (three-door crossover based on the Countryman).

The Mini was originally a product of the British Motor Corporation, which in 1966 became part of British Motor Holdings. British Motor Holdings merged with Leyland Motors in 1968 to form British Leyland. Mini became a marque in its own right in 1969. In the 1980s, British Leyland was broken-up and in 1988 Rover Group, including Mini, was acquired by British Aerospace. In 1994, Rover Group was acquired by BMW. In 2000, Rover Group was broken up by BMW, with BMW retaining the Mini brand.Jochen Goller of BMW currently serves as the managing director of the Mini marque.

The Mini Hatch/Hardtop, Clubman, Convertible, Coupe and Roadster are assembled at BMW's Plant Oxford in Cowley, England, and the Countryman and Paceman are assembled by Magna Steyr in Austria. A total of 301,526 Mini vehicles were sold worldwide in 2012.Mini vehicles have been active in rallying and the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally on three occasions, in 1964, 1965 and 1967. Mini has participated in the World Rally Championship since 2011 through the Prodrive WRC Team.

In April 2013, Peter Schwarzenbauer becomes new Mini marque's managing director and succeeds to Jochen Goller