SHANGHAI - DaimlerChrysler AG will bring Dodge vehicles to China in the second half of 2007, the company said today.

DaimlerChrysler China spokesman Trevor Hale declined to say which vehicles would be sold.

Suppliers are not being asked to quote component prices for any Dodge models, so the brand will likely be introduced as an import. Companies often import models to China to test the market before beginning local production.

At its joint venture in Beijing, DaimlerChrysler now assembles the Mercedes E-class and Chrysler 300C sedans, as well as several Jeep and Mitsubishi vehicles.

The venture, Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Co., will begin assembling the Chrysler Sebring and Mercedes C-class sedans in the second half of the year.

Also, in the next several months DaimlerChrysler will begin assembling Mercedes Sprinter, Vito, and Viano vans at joint ventures in eastern China. It is waiting for the venture's business license to arrive from Beijing. The license was approved in January.

Licensed assembly of a Chrysler minivan by Southeast Motor (Fujian) Motor Co. in eastern China also will begin this year.

In 2006, DaimlerChrysler sold 20,305 locally assembled vehicles in China, down 15.8 percent from the previous year, according to consultants Automotive Resources Asia in Shanghai.