In a move that highlights the fierce innovation race unfolding in China’s hyper-competitive electric vehicle market, Chongqing-based automaker Seres has submitted a patent application for a novel, space-efficient in-vehicle toilet designed to meet driver and passenger needs during long trips, roadside camping, and extended stays inside the vehicle.
Filed with China’s National Intellectual Property Administration on April 10, the patent outlines a compact toilet system that stows completely beneath a passenger seat when not in use, eliminating the need for extra cabin space that would compromise vehicle design. The unit can be deployed either via a manual push or hands-free voice activation, and comes equipped with built-in ventilation features: a connected fan and exhaust pipe that redirect unpleasant odors outside the vehicle. For waste management, the system uses a removable collection tank that requires manual emptying, alongside a rotating heating component that evaporates liquid waste and speeds up drying of solid waste.
Seres, a manufacturer best known for its electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) sold under its core brand and subsidiary Aito, has not yet announced any production models that will integrate this toilet feature. As of press time, it remains unclear whether the concept will ever move from patent filing to mass-produced vehicle integration.
The new patent is far from an outlier in China’s fast-growing EV sector, where manufacturers have been rolling out a wave of unconventional, comfort-focused features to differentiate their offerings in an increasingly saturated market. Many new Chinese electric vehicles already come equipped with premium add-ons including heated massage seats, in-car karaoke entertainment systems, built-in refrigerators, and other lifestyle-focused features designed to appeal to domestic consumers.
While on-board toilets are a standard fixture in long-distance commercial coaches, they remain extremely rare in passenger cars – though not unprecedented. Automotive history records show that a custom 1950s Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith included an under-seat toilet alongside a built-in television, according to auction house Sotheby’s.
Seres currently sells the vast majority of its vehicles in mainland China, but has already expanded its international footprint to markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. China’s overall EV market has become heavily saturated in recent years, sparking a brutal price war that has eroded profit margins for most industry players. Notably, Seres is one of the small handful of domestic EV manufacturers that currently turn a profit, joining global industry leader BYD. Many market analysts have warned that a large share of smaller Chinese EV firms face significant risk of collapse amid the ongoing industry shakeout.