Bullets:
BYD is the world’s largest maker of electric vehicles, and KFC is China’s largest fast-food chain.
BYD and KFC have a new partnership, combining 9-minute car charging and KFC’s fast-food.
Though BYD is growing quickly in foreign markets, it struggling in China, with sales down over 30% on the year.
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Report:
Good morning.
This does make sense, business-wise. And it’s good to get away from the Persian Gulf War and the supply-chain shocks that are hitting almost everyone almost everywhere, just for one day. BYD is the world largest manufacturer of electric vehicles. KFC is KFC. They’ve just announced a partnership to build a network of 9-minute, one-stop drive throughs that combine these companies’ core strengths, of fast car charging, and fried chicken.
KFC is the biggest fast-food chain in China, and they’re crazy about KFC in ways Americans cannot appreciate until we see it for ourselves. For example, in the US it’s almost impossible to find a KFC outlet that is open past ten, or one that serves breakfast. Business hours are 10 to 10. In China, they open early morning, and many of them don’t close at all. There are four within a five-minute walk of my apartment, and three of them are open 24 hours.
KFC’s in China are a lot bigger, and their menus here feature a much wider selection. China has more KFC restaurants than the next ten countries combined, and three times more than in the United States.
KFC doesn’t need help from anyone to sell chicken in China. So this partnership is to benefit BYD, who is now struggling to sell cars.
BYD’s sales are growing fast across the world, but they’re getting killed in the Chinese market by Leapmotor, Nio, Xiaomi, and other brands. BYD then is teaming up with KFC to offer a solution to a problem we didn’t know we had, until today: They’re breaking down the boundaries that currently exist between charging your car and eating chicken, which used to be two completely different things.
This is from BYD’s Wechat account, and we’ve translated it. The objective is a “9-minute one-stop human and vehicle power replenishment.” BYD has thousands of charging stations across the country, and they’re building tens of thousands more. But unfortunately for BYD car drivers, the nearest KFC may be a few hundred meters away.
This map is the KFC locations in my own neighborhood in Kunming. And that is something Americans can understand, the hassle of walking for a few minutes.
Be Good.
Resources and links:
比亚迪与肯德基达成战略合作，携手打造9分钟一站式人车补能生态
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/u1qAswbCn6-weyWII6Smlg
Fast food, faster charging? BYD and KFC China collaborate to offer 9-minute refueling stations
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/byd-and-kfc-collaborate-to-offer-9-minute-refueling-stations-in-china.html
BYD sales drop 36% as domestic EV rivals gain ground in China
https://www.cbtnews.com/byd-sales-drop-36-as-domestic-rivals-gain-ground/
BYD Under Pressure : Home Market Collapse vs. Global Boom
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China Business Spotlight
BYD Under Pressure : Home Market Collapse vs. Global Boom
Pressure on BYD is mounting as sales in the Chinese market are falling sharply and domestic momentum is slowing noticeably. Whilst the car market as a whole has made a weak start to the year, the combination of a price war, waning demand and the political climate is hitting the manufacturer particularly hard. At the same time, however, a contrasting tre…
Read more
2 days ago · 9 likes · 4 comments · China Business Spotlight](https://chinabusinessspotlight.substack.com/p/byd-under-pressure-home-market-collapse)
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