From massage seats to minifridges, China’s EV makers have been raising the bar on in-car luxury—but Seres may have just taken it to a whole new level
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Seres has filed a patent for a built-in toilet designed to slide out from beneath a passenger seat, offering drivers and passengers a discreet bathroom option while on the move.
According to the patent filing submitted to China’s intellectual property administration, the feature aims to “satisfy users’ toilet needs on long journeys, while camping, or while staying in the car.” The Chongqing-based company has not announced any production vehicles equipped with the system, and it remains unclear whether the concept will ever make it to market.
As explained here, the design is both compact and surprisingly sophisticated. The toilet slides out from under the seat either manually or via voice command and includes a built-in fan and exhaust pipe to vent odors outside the vehicle. Waste is stored in a removable tank that must be emptied by hand, while a rotating heating element evaporates liquid waste and dries solid matter. When not in use, the unit tucks neatly back beneath the seat, making efficient use of the car’s interior space.
The patent is emblematic of a broader trend in China’s electric vehicle industry, where automakers are loading their cars with increasingly lavish and unconventional features—from massage seats and karaoke systems to built-in fridges—in a bid to stand out in one of the world’s most crowded automotive markets.
In-car toilets are rarely seen outside of long-distance coaches, though they are not entirely without precedent. A bespoke Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith from the 1950s famously featured both an in-built television and a toilet tucked beneath the passenger seat, according to auction house Sotheby’s.
Seres, whose subsidiary brand Aito produces electric SUVs, sells the majority of its vehicles in mainland China but has been expanding into Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company is among a small group of Chinese EV manufacturers that have managed to remain profitable — a notable achievement given the intense pressure facing the sector.
China’s EV market has grown increasingly saturated, with dozens of competing brands driving a fierce price war that has squeezed profit margins across the industry. Many analysts warn that a significant number of Chinese EV firms may not survive the consolidation ahead.