Happy birthday, MINI! 66 years of driving pleasure, style and individuality.

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Munich. On 26 August 1959, the British Motor
Corporation unveiled the first Mini: no one could have guessed at the
time what an impact the innovative concept of brilliant British
engineer Alec Issigonis would have on the automotive world. Sixty-six
years after the launch of the now legendary Classic Mini, the MINI
brand looks back on decades of racing success, visionary innovation,
groundbreaking design – and unmistakable driving pleasure.

The MINI family combines tradition and modernity.

With the relaunch of the MINI family over the past two years, the
brand has once again aligned its pioneering design and historical
heritage with the future: with a new, charismatic generation of the
MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman, the world premiere of the MINI
Aceman, the first crossover model for the premium segment, and the
launch of the new MINI Convertible, MINI combines tradition and
innovation in the present.

The New John Cooper Works models illustrate MINI’s racing expertise
and with a spectacular second place in its class at the 24-hour race
at the Nürburgring, MINI recently demonstrated how much motorsport is
in the brand’s DNA.

On its 66th birthday, MINI can look back on a growing range of
electrified variants within the MINI family. MINI has shown, that
go-kart feeling is also possible with fully electric vehicles.

66 years of vibrant automotive history – a look back at the
milestones of MINI:

26 August 1959

The British Motor
Corporation unveils the first Mini in history. The design is
the brainchild of British engineer Alec Issigonis.

1961

The first Mini Cooper is unveiled – at a price
of £680.

1962

Shortly after the Mini went into production,
the British Motor Corporation was manufacturing 200,000
vehicles per year.

1963-64

The first Mini Cooper S is unveiled.

1964

Racing driver Paddy Hopkirk wins the Monte
Carlo Rally in spectacular fashion in a Mini Cooper S.

1965

Second consecutive victory at the Monte Carlo
Rally for Mini with racing driver Timo Makinen at the wheel.

 

Mini celebrates one million vehicles produced.

 

The first automatic transmission in the Mini
is available.

1967

Mini wins the Monte Carlo Rally for the third time.

1972

Mini celebrates three million vehicles produced.

1981

Drop in production figures to 70,000 vehicles
per year.

1990

Under the leadership of the Rover brand, Mini
presents a new generation of the Mini Cooper. Initially as a
limited edition – later as a series model.

1992

For the first time, the Mini is also available
as a convertible.

1994

The BMW Group acquires Rover – and with it,
Mini. The acquisition lays the foundation for the MINI brand
in its current form.

2001

World premiere of the BMW Group’s first MINI.

 

Start of MINI production at the Oxford plant (UK).

 

The new generation of the MINI Cooper S is
presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

2002

MINI reaches the milestone of 100,000 vehicles
produced at its Oxford plant.

2004

The MINI Cooper S Convertible is unveiled.

2007

The MINI One and MINI Cooper D are unveiled.

 

The first MINI Clubman celebrates its world premiere.

2010

The first MINI Countryman is unveiled.

2014

MINI presents the Cooper as a 5-door model for
the first time.

2015

MINI presents a new brand logo.

2016

MINI reaches the milestone of 3,000,000
vehicles produced at its Oxford plant.

2020

Production of fully electric series vehicles
begins at the Oxford plant with the MINI Cooper SE.

2021

New edition of the MINI 3-door, 5-door and
MINI Convertible.

2023

The dawn of a new era with the new MINI:
introducing a new generation of the MINI Cooper and MINI
Countryman – both available as fully electric models.

2024

With the MINI Aceman, the brand is introducing
a completely new model – the first crossover model in the
premium segment of the small car class.

2024

MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing
celebrate class victory at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.

2024

Presentation of the new MINI Cooper 5-door and
the new MINI Convertible.

2025

MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing
celebrate second place in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.

 

In case of queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Franziska Liebert, Press Spokesperson MINI

Phone: +49-151-601-28030
E-mail: franziska.liebert@mini.com

Micaela Sandstede, Head of Communications MINI

Phone: +49-176-601-61611
E-mail: micaela.sandstede@bmw.de

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