Seres patents in-vehicle toilet for passenger seat

Chinese automaker Seres has obtained a patent for an “in-vehicle toilet” that is designed to retract beneath a passenger seat, according to a filing disclosed on April 10. The patent describes a system intended for situations where passengers may remain in a vehicle for long periods, including extended trips, camping, or other stays inside the car.

 

The filing with China’s intellectual property administration outlines a toilet module that can be deployed through voice activation. The design also includes an exhaust system aimed at controlling odors while the unit is in use.

 

According to the patent description, the system uses a rotating heating element to evaporate liquid waste and dry solid waste. The waste is then stored in a tank that is emptied manually, as described in the filing.

 

The patent arrives as China’s electric vehicle market remains highly competitive, with manufacturers adding unusual in-cabin features to stand out. The source material notes examples such as massage seats, karaoke systems, and refrigerators, reflecting a broader push to differentiate products beyond core performance and range claims.

 

Seres is known for electric SUVs, and the patent does not indicate that a production vehicle is planned. The company has not announced any rollout or manufacturing timeline for cars that would include the toilet system, leaving the commercial path for the concept unclear.

 

Seres is headquartered in Chongqing and primarily sells vehicles in mainland China, while also expanding into European, Middle Eastern, and African markets. That overseas footprint means any future product direction—if it were to move beyond patenting—would be relevant not only to domestic competition but also to how Chinese EV brands position themselves in multiple regions.

 

The filing also sits against the backdrop of market pressure in China’s EV sector. The source material describes intense market saturation and a price war that has weighed on industry profits, even as companies compete on features and perceived value.

 

Within that environment, Seres is described as one of the few Chinese EV manufacturers to reach profitability, alongside BYD. Even so, the patent itself is only an indicator of product exploration, and it does not confirm whether the feature will be engineered, certified, or offered to consumers.