Malaysian drone company Aonic, with top-line revenue near RM300 million, is executing a major strategic push: its own “Made In Malaysia” proprietary hardware, the Mist 50 drone. This shift is driven by a core insight: after-sales costs for imported drones were too expensive for local farmers.

Founder and CEO Cheong Jin Xi (JX) joins us to unpack this evolution. He details why Aonic’s competitive edge lies in its comprehensive ecosystem, including physical service centers, proprietary software, and a financing arm, and how this model is set to drive the company’s expansion into robotics and new global markets.

We discuss:

• The strategic expansion from distribution to IP development.

• The core competitive edge: why their proprietary solution makes drones better fit for local needs, cheaper and more accessible. 

• How the integrated ecosystem (hardware, software, financing, service centers, and training) creates value.

• The advantage of being "Made in Malaysia" for exports to Western markets.

• The unique risk management of Aionic Flex, which aligns collections with harvest cycles.

The future roadmap: plans for expansion into robotics and ground/underwater drones.