Daimler’s financial services business aims to grow profitably in 2013 after forecasting a record EUR1.3bn (US$1.65bn) in operating profit for the current year, the company said on Monday.

The unit’s chief executive Klaus Entemann said in a statement cited by Reuters that he was looking at expanding financing services in China, a key growth market for luxury carmakers.

“We have successfully launched this summer a new company responsible for leasing Mercedes-Benz vehicles (in China),” he said in a statement.