Chennai: Daimler Chrysler India, makers of the high end Mercedez Benz brand of passenger cars, plans to import at least 100 to 150 CBUs (completely built units) of the whole range of its internationally popular models including Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in 2002.

"Enquiries for these models, which were not being manufactured by the company in India, is quite encouraging and the imports have already started," Antonio Faria, general manager (after sales) of the company, told reporters on April 25.

The company sold over 1,400 cars in 2001 calendar year and hopes the sales to go up by at least 10 to 15 per cent in 2002, inclusive of imported CBUs. The profit in 2001 was Rs 40 crore, he said, adding Mercedez Benz C class, the company's latest offering alone registered a sale of 600 units in 2001.

The sale of this model, the cheapest from the company's manufacturing stable in India, was expected to go upto 800 this year.

Faria said South India accounted for at least 30 per cent of the company's total sales.

Faria was in the city in connection with the opening of its second dealership (Sundaram motors) in Tamil Nadu. With this, the company's dealerships in the country had gone upto 15 and workshops to 17.

PTI