MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish logistics firm Bergé has hired investment bank Lazard as a first step towards a stock market debut for its automotive unit Astara planned for next year, the newspaper Expansion reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the plans.

The group's valuation could be around 2 billion euros ($2.20 billion), the report added.

Astara, formerly named Bergé Automoción, is Bergé's main business unit with an annual turnover of more than 5 billion euros.

It specialises on car distribution - which currently accounts for around 90% of its revenues - although in recent years it has been boosting its mobility business, which offers subscription-based car services, among others.

Astara is the exclusive distributor in Spain for car brands such as Mitsubishi, Subaru and SsangYong.

The Expansion report added that both Bergé, which controls 75% of Astara, and the Mitsubishi Corporation, which owns the remaining 25%, could sell part of their stakes.

According to the sources cited in the report, Bergé seeks to retain control over Astara, so the placement of shares would range from 25% - the minimum required to go public - to a maximum of 49%.

($1 = 0.9101 euros)

(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Louise Heavens)