AGIBOT, a Chinese robotics company specialising in embodied artificial intelligence, has launched operations in Malaysia, marking the beginning of its Asia-Pacific expansion strategy.
The company held a launch event on Tuesday at i-City in Selangor, attended by Malaysian government officials and industry partners, coinciding with the opening of an AI and Robotics Experience Centre developed with local property developer I-Berhad.
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The timing reflects broader shifts in Southeast Asia’s manufacturing landscape. Rising labour costs, supply chain reshoring, and government-backed automation initiatives are driving demand for robotics solutions across the region.
Malaysia’s established electronics manufacturing base, relatively business-friendly regulatory environment, and central geographic position make it a logical entry point for regional expansion.
Market position and scale
AGIBOT, founded in 2023, has achieved rapid scaling. The company claims to have shipped over 5,100 humanoid units in 2025 and was ranked No. 1 globally by market research firm Omdia for humanoid robot shipments and market share, capturing 39 per cent of the global market. The company’s 5,168th mass-produced unit demonstrates industrial-scale manufacturing capability—a significant milestone for a robotics sector historically characterised by limited production volumes.
“AGIBOT made significant strides to improve the mass production and the practical use of embodied robotics last year,” said Deng Taihua, Founder, Chairman, and CEO. “This milestone puts AGIBOT in a strong position as we start 2026.”
AGIBOT’s approach differs from traditional industrial robots designed for single, repetitive tasks. The company focuses on embodied AI systems that learn and adapt in real-world environments through reinforcement learning, enabling robots to be trained and deployed directly in operational settings rather than relying solely on pre-programmed sequences.
Malaysia partnership and testbed model
The AI World Experience Centre represents a departure from conventional robotics commercialisation. Rather than focusing exclusively on factory automation, AGIBOT and I-Berhad are deploying robots across hospitality, property management, and urban operations at i-City. The partnership plans to develop the world’s first AI and Robotics Residential Tower, positioning residential environments as a testbed for humanoid robot integration.
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“This launch marks the first of several strategic initiatives we will roll out in the Asia-Pacific region throughout 2026 and beyond,” said Abel Deng, President, Asia-Pacific & Middle East Region, AGIBOT.
Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, Chairman of I-Berhad, stated that the initiative aims to advance Malaysia’s positioning as a regional AI innovation hub and establish “a new benchmark for intelligent, human-centric living in the region.”
Product portfolio
AGIBOT’s commercial offerings span multiple use cases: the A2 series for reception and hospitality; the X2 series for entertainment and education; the G2 series for industrial manufacturing; the D1 series for inspection operations; and the C5 autonomous floor-care robot.
The company targets eight application areas, including reception, entertainment, industrial manufacturing, logistics, security, data collection, and research.
Regional context
AGIBOT’s expansion arrives at a pivotal moment for robotics adoption across Southeast Asia. While the region’s robotics sector remains smaller than those in Singapore or South Korea, growth is accelerating. Rising labour costs across manufacturing hubs like Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are driving automation investments. Supply chain reshoring initiatives, accelerated by pandemic disruptions, are creating new opportunities for local robotics deployment.
The sector, however, faces challenges. Compared to mature markets, Southeast Asia has a smaller installed base of industrial robots, lower overall adoption rates in some industries, and a developing ecosystem of local robotics companies. Yet these barriers also represent opportunities for players like AGIBOT to shape market standards and build early-mover advantages.
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Key trends include increased AI integration, expansion beyond manufacturing into services, and growing emphasis on localised solutions tailored to regional needs.
Strategic trajectory
AGIBOT frames the Malaysia launch as the first of multiple 2026 initiatives. The company indicates plans to expand partnerships across Asia-Pacific and deploy robots in “closed-loop commercial scenarios”, operational environments where continuous learning and improvement can occur. The emphasis on robots-as-a-service models suggests a subscription-based approach rather than outright sales.
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