Chinese carmaker Seres is pushing the boundaries of in-car technology – with an in-car toilet system that slides out from beneath a passenger seat.
The patent was reportedly filed in 2025 and officially approved in China last month. According to the filing, the toilet can be deployed either manually or through the car’s voice control system, before sliding neatly back under the seat once finished. Which raises several questions, not least where exactly the toilet paper goes. And could a gearstick or handbrake double as a toilet brush?
The system includes a ventilation fan and exhaust pipe to direct odours outside the vehicle, while a heating element is designed to dry waste inside an onboard storage tank.
Seres says the idea is intended for long-distance journeys, camping and situations where drivers or passengers may be spending extended periods inside the vehicle.
While built-in toilets are common in motorhomes and coaches, they’re almost unheard of in passenger cars. One notable exception was a specially modified 1950s Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith that had a gold-plated toilet/champagne cooler beneath the rear seats.
The patent is the latest example of how competitive the Chinese EV market has become, with manufacturers increasingly loading cars with unusual technology and luxury features to stand out. Karaoke systems, fridges, and face-scanning security systems are already common on many Chinese-market EVs.
© Copyright 2026 Smart Media Publishing. All Rights Reserved.