Chinese Carmaker Patents Voice-Controlled In-Vehicle Toilet
Tuesday, 2026/04/21176 words3 minutes732 reads
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Seres has received a patent for an innovative in-vehicle toilet system. The toilet is designed to slide out from beneath a passenger seat, activated either by physical touch or voice commands.
According to the patent filing submitted on April 10, the feature aims to address toilet needs during long journeys, camping trips, or extended stays in the vehicle. The system includes a ventilation fan and exhaust pipe to manage odors, while waste is collected in a manually-emptied tank. A rotating heating element evaporates urine and dries solid waste.
Seres, headquartered in Chongqing, has not announced production plans for toilet-equipped vehicles. The company joins other Chinese EV makers in adding unconventional features like massage seats, karaoke systems, and refrigerators to stand out in China's saturated electric vehicle market.
While in-car toilets are uncommon, they're not entirely new. A 1950s Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith featured a toilet beneath the passenger seat. Today, China's competitive EV industry faces a price war that threatens many companies, though Seres remains among the profitable few alongside industry leader BYD.
