Daimler's in demand.

Not just from Chinese motorists, but Chinese motor manufacturers too.

Sources tell Reuters that the Beijing Automobile Group Company - BAIC - wants to double its stake in the German carmaker from five to ten per cent.

In so doing, it would upstage Chinese rival, Geely - though only just.

Geely - which owns around half of Volvo - has a 9.69 per cent stake in Daimler

Daimler told Reuters it hadn't received any notification of any increased stake.

But said it welcomed long-term investors.

Like Geely, BAIC has been a partner to Daimler in China for years ...

And operates factories in Beijing making Daimler's main Mercedes-Benz brand through a joint venture.

The sources say that with a bigger ten per cent shareholding, BAIC would be looking to secure a seat on Daimler's supervisory board ...

Something Geely does not currently have.