electric vehicle giant BYD announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with KFC to provide its EV users in China with a one-stop feeding and refueling experience in less than 10 minutes.
one in Post on your official WeChat accountBYD said it is working with Yum China Holdings — the fast-food conglomerate that owns the KFC brand in China — to develop a network of “nine-minute” drive-thrus across the country, which will allow EV drivers to stop for a meal at KFC outlets while charging their cars.
The “nine minutes” branding nods to the fast charging capabilities of BYD’s second-generation Blade battery, which the company unveiled in March and advertised as achieving 97% charge In nine minutes.
As part of the new collaboration, the automaker also launched a “smart ordering function” that not only allows drivers to place orders directly from their car’s onboard interface, but also displays known locations of KFC one-stop drive-thrus along the driver’s route.
This smart ordering system will be gradually introduced across BYD’s passenger EV lineup, starting with the Fangchengbao Ti7 (“Formula Leopard Titanium 7”) SUV.
In its statement, BYD said the collaboration aims to maximize the efficiency of on-the-go charging, which it described as a long-standing problem in EV ownership.
BYD announced completion Its 5,000th flash charging station will be installed in China on March 31, with plans to build a total of 20,000 by the end of the year.
fast food nation
BYD’s stellar domestic sales growth has recently reversed, given the slowdown in China’s broader EV sector amid persistent oversupply issues in the Chinese market and the withdrawal of government subsidies on new energy vehicles from as early as 2026.
The Shenzhen-headquartered automaker’s total first-quarter sales That fell nearly 30% compared with the same period a year earlier, as offerings from domestic competitors like Stellantis-backed Leapmotor and Geely’s Zeekar brand kept BYD on its toes.
In its recent annual financial statement, BYD also reported the first decline in its annual profits since 2021. The firm’s Hong Kong-listed shares are currently trading about 20% lower than a year ago.
BYD remains China’s leading EV maker, recording a total of 367,828 domestic sales in the first quarter of the year, according to CNBC calculations.
BYD’s collaboration with KFC sees the EV giant partnering with China.Leading fast-food chain” According to DaXue Consulting’s 2025 Industry Report.
“Fast food is firmly part of everyday life in China, especially in cities,” said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of digital consultancy ChoZan, citing long working hours, dense urban life and the rise of delivery platforms in many cities in the world’s second-most populous country.
Yum China reported that by December 2025, approx. 13,000 KFC outlets 2,500 were located in Chinese cities. are around 7,500 McDonald’s outlets In mainland China, according to official Xinhua News.
KFC China sees overall sales in 2025 grow 5% year-on-yearAnd its operating profit rose 8%. China’s fast-food industry given importance $176.3 billionDaXue analysts forecast further growth, according to IBISWorld estimates Demand from lower tier Chinese cities.
CNBC has contacted BYD And yam china For comment.
— CNBC’s Dylan Butts contributed to this report.
