Perodua is studying the possibility of producing sedan cars in the near future, managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said yesterday.

Aminar however did not give details.

"This is my aspiration. If there is an opportunity and permitted by our partners and shareholders, this is what we would like to do," he told a press conference after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd and UMW Corp Sdn Bhd.

It is believed that Perodua might have a joint venture with UMW Holdings Bhd to manufacture sedan models

Aminar, however, said Perodua was not keen to invest to produce hybrid or electric cars.

"It's expensive to build these cars and we don't have the technology and research and development facilities," he added.

Under the MoU, Perodua is acquiring 25.6ha of land in Serendah from UMW Corp worth RM 16.7 million (US$ 5.3 million) for the construction of new facilities and for expansion of existing infrastructures.

The facilities are a mosque, a child care centre, a mini gymnasium, additional parking space and utilities infrastructures.

"The plans we have in place for this land will be a great boost to our staff welfare and is part and parcel of our promise to place people first in whatever we do," he said.

The facilities will be completed towards the second half of next year, he said, adding that the gross development value could not be quantified.

On expansion, Perodua is planning to spend RM 1.2 billion to RM 1.5 billion in the next three years to expand its current facilities.

It would include plant upgrade, network expansion, research and development, new model development and staff training.

Present at the event was UMW Corp president and group chief executive officer Datuk Syed Hisyam Syed Wazir.