KFC, a subsidiary of Yum! Restaurants China, plans to open Shenzhen's first drive-through restaurant this year, the company announced at a news conference recently.

Han Jilin, executive officer of the development department of Yum!China, confirmed that KFC had finalized deals on its first restaurant in the city offering drive-through service, and promised the restaurant would open by the end of the year. The fast-food chain is also planning to open two other outlets in Fuzhou and Xiamen in Fujian Province. "Our plan is to open 100 drive-through restaurants in the coming three years," he said.

KFC opened its first drive-through outlet in Beijing in 2002, following it up with three others in Shanghai, Wuxi and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province.

"As private vehicles spread in China, drive-through restaurants will play an important role in KFC's future development," said Su Jingshi, chief executive of Yum! Restaurants China.

KFC refused to disclose the location of the Shenzhen drive-through outlet, but stressed convenience and a customer-friendly environment are key elements in deciding the site. The Nanjing drive-through restaurant is located in the Metro chain store square in Yuhua District, while the Wuxi outlet is in a new high-tech park.

KFC rival McDonald's started its drive-through outlets in Guangdong only last year, but now has four drive-through restaurants in the province and Shanghai.

Editor: Yan