A patent filed by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Seres has drawn attention after government records confirmed approval for an in-car toilet system concealed beneath a sliding seat — one that responds to voice commands.
According to the patent filing, the system activates either manually, by pushing the seat backward, or through the spoken prompt “start up toilet function.” Seres engineers described the feature as designed to “satisfy users’ toilet needs on long journeys, while camping or while living in the car.”
Waste management is handled through a built-in tank requiring periodic emptying, and a rotating heating element evaporates urine and dries other waste. A fan and exhaust pipe channel odours out of the vehicle. The filing notes that the sliding seat configuration “optimizes the utility of the car’s interior.”
The patent reflects a broader arms race among Chinese EV brands scrambling to differentiate themselves in a market analysts have described as oversaturated. Karaoke systems and mini-fridges have become standard novelties among competing models, while automaker Nio offers a built-in hot stone massage function in its seats. BYD announced a vehicle-mounted drone system last year slated for rollout across its lineup, and XPeng has said deliveries of its so-called “Land Aircraft Carrier” — a car housing its own six-propeller flying vehicle — are expected to begin this year.
Seres, known for developing its premium AITO vehicle line in partnership with telecommunications company Huawei, received the patent approval earlier this month. The company has not announced any toilet-equipped production models, and whether the patented system will ever reach consumers remains unknown. Seres did not respond to a request for comment.
