Officials representing Chinese automaker Geely Group and auto-parts maker Wanxiang Group might visit Indiana and examine sites for production or distribution sometime in the future, Gov. Mitch Daniels said in a telephone interview from China.

His trade mission — an effort to attract investments and jobs to the state — was scheduled to arrive in Japan early this morning.

Officials at Geely, which is trying to buy Volvo from Ford, showed specific interest in the state, as did Wanxiang and about eight Cummins suppliers, Daniels said.

“Some of them seem interested in first establishing logistics and distribution and some of them production facilities,” Daniels said, noting he visited with dozens of business officials at receptions and company tours.

“What I think we’ve seen is there are a lot of companies here that are really growing.”

He said the interest expressed in Indiana was so strong he sensed he might have had success had earlier trade missions visited China.

It is his first trade mission to China in five years in office.

“I realize I missed a year or two getting here, but on the other hand I don’t think we missed any boats,” Daniels said.