Fujian Daimler Automotive Co Ltd, a joint venture between Germany-based Daimler AG with Fujian Motors Group and China Motor Corp, has introduced its new multi-purpose vehicle or MPV model Sprinter in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province to attract higher end consumers in China.

Rene Reif, CEO of the JV, said China has become the fifth largest market of Daimler's luxury car unit Mercedes Benz for commercial vehicles, adding that combined sales of two popular MPV models Viano and Vito exceeded 10,000 units last year.

The JV hopes to increase its market share in the range of 7 percent to 8 percent in China with a local production rate to increase more than 40 percent, said a person familiar with the matter.

Fujian Daimler Auto plans to expand its sales network in the country's second and third-tier cities.

The person also noted that the JV's new research and development center, which will cost 500 million yuan, is expected to go into operation in the first quarter of 2012.

In 2010, about 445,000 MPVs were sold in China, up 80 percent year on year, and the MPV sales for 2011 is estimated to grow more than 30 percent year on year to 530,000 units.