Mumbai: DaimlerChrysler, the German-US carmaker is setting up a second plant in India, possibly near Pune, for launching new and high-end products.

The company, which markets the Mercedes Benz brand in India apart from tippers in the commercial vehicles range, has a manufacturing facility in Pune. The company is looking to expand operations in the country and introduce high-end products to grow in the coming years.

The company sold sold 1,915 Mercedes Benz cars last year, which included 829 'C Class', 825 'E Class' and 140 units of the top-end 'S Class'. The company also markets tippers in the commercial vehicles section.

DaimlerChrysler expects to sell around 2,000 cars in India in 2006. The company has already sold 1,715 units till October and is poised for a healthy full-year sales growth. Among commercial vehicles, the company has already sold around 50 tippers used for mining.

DaimlerChrysler launched its new-generation Mercedes Benz 'E Class' and a special edition 'E350' last year. The company is also looking at options to launch commercial vehicles like buses and trucks, sources pointed out.

DaimlerChrysler, which started its Indian facility in Pune in 1995, has been making profits in India for a long time now.

DaimlerChrysler was created in November 1998 through the merger of Daimler-Benz AG of Germany and Chrysler Corporation of the US. The group can look back on a tradition that stretches back over more than a hundred years and is marked by the pioneering achievements of both predecessor companies.

Today, DaimlerChrysler is a leading supplier of superior passenger cars, SUVs, sports tourers, minivans and pickups, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.