Mini is a British automotive marque, which was founded in 1959. It is currently owned by German automaker, BMW. 

The history of Mini dates back to the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1959. The concept of the Mini came as a result of the 1956 Suez Crisis that significantly increased the market price of oil. CEO of BMC, Leonard Lord identified the need for a small car in the British market that does not require large amounts of petrol.

Many in the automotive industry claim the model was based on the concept of the successful Volkswagen Beetle. The first model to bear the Mini name was the Mark I in 1959, which was an instant hit. In the same year, the model was seen in over 100 countries. The Mark model was upgraded to Mark II in 1967 and Mark III in 1969. Other   ccessful models include the Cooper and Cooper S that were designed to cater for the sporting market.

In 1966, the company became part of British Leyland. In 1988, it was acquired by British Aerospace and in 1994, it was acquired by BMW. The Mini is the most successful British car, in terms of sales and in 1995, it was awarded the 'Car of the Century' by the respected Autocar magazine. The company's largest markets are America, UK and Germany. To the interest of many, the Mini was actually first refused entry into the American automobile market because it did not fit the requirements for an automobile.

The company is based in Oxford, UK. The Mini has famously been featured in a range of Hollywood blockbusters including: Italian Job, Lara Croft, Mr Bean and Bourne Identity.