BYD and KFC Collaboration in China: Charge Electric Vehicle While Eating, Just 9 Minutes

Electric vehicle manufacturer from China, BYD, has teamed up with the fast-food chain KFC to offer an experience of charging while eating in a short time, even less than 10 minutes. Quoted from CNBC, this collaboration was announced on Wednesday (9/4/2026), with the aim of building a “9-minute” drive-thru network in various regions of China. Through this concept, electric vehicle drivers can order food at KFC outlets while waiting for their vehicles to be charged. KFC’s network itself is said to be the largest in the country, with nearly 13,000 outlets spread across around 2,500 cities. The “9-minute” label refers to the fast-charging capability of BYD’s second-generation Blade battery. This technology was introduced last March and is claimed to be able to charge up to 97 percent in just nine minutes. As part of the collaboration, BYD also launched a “smart ordering” feature that allows drivers to order food directly from the vehicle’s screen. The system can also display locations of KFC drive-thrus integrated with charging stations along the travel route. BYD states that this partnership aims to overcome one of the main challenges of electric vehicle ownership, namely the waiting time during charging. The company is also accelerating infrastructure expansion. As of 31 March 2026, BYD has completed the construction of 5,000 fast-charging stations in China and targets a total of 20,000 units by the end of the year. Although still leading the electric vehicle market in China, BYD’s performance has recently come under pressure. Domestic sales in the first quarter of 2026 fell by around 30 percent compared to the same period the previous year. This decline occurred amid a slowdown in China’s electric vehicle sector, triggered by oversupply and the reduction of government subsidies since early 2026. Competition is also becoming increasingly fierce with the presence of other players such as Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis, and Geely’s Zeekr brand.