China Investment Corp Considering Buying Up to 10% of Daimler

China's state-owned newspaper, People's Daily, is reporting that the government-owned China Investment Corp. is considering buying between 4% and 10% of DaimlerDaimlerGermany, 1889 > present12 models
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. 

"In general, we always welcome any new investors as a balanced shareholder structure is in the interest of Daimler," said Daimler PR agent Silke Walters.

The newspaper named no sources for the news and just said that the news had been revealed to them. 

If the purchase goes through, it could boost Mercedes sales in China where it is struggling compared to competitors BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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and AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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. Mercedes-Benz Cars sold 196,211 cars in China in 2012, compared to 405,838 cars from Audi. BMW has not announced its 2012 sales figures yet but had sold 295,974 BMW and Mini vehicles in China from January through November. 

Obviously, there is no guarantee that Chinese investment will lead to Chinese sales success. VolvoVolvoSweden, 1927 > present49 models
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was purchased by Chinese automaker GeelyGeelyChina, 1986 > present5 models
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and has received a loan from the Chinese Investment Corp, but its sales in China fell 10.9% in 2012 to 41,989 cars in 2012.

Source: Automotive News Europe