In May 1959, two companies that formed the British Motor Corporation (Austin and Morris) started to manufacture the famous Mini model, which was produced until the 4th of October 2000. In 1966 BMC joined Jaguar forming BMH, which two years later became a part of the state owned Leyland/Rover. The new consortium British Leyland separated the new make (Mini) in 1970. After its privatization in 1988, Mini was taken over by BMW.