The good old British Mini is still hitting the high spots in Japan as the country’s love affair with the model, which goes back to the original – first built more than 50 years ago – continues.

Ian Robertson, BMW Group’s sales and marketing supremo, said: “The Mini really is enjoying great success in Japan and while some of that is down to its heritage, I think we have proved that it is more than just a cute British car. It’s a global brand that pretty well invented the small premium segment.”

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Robertson was in Tokyo for the Japanese unveiling of the new coupé variant and was confident customers would love the latest member of the family just as much.

He added: “This year to the end of October we have sold 230,000 Minis worldwide, up 23%, and, over the same period, we have sold 12,000 in Japan.”

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact