A Chinese electric vehicle company has patented a voice-controlled in-vehicle toilet that slides out from beneath a passenger seat on demand. The unit can also be deployed through a simple push of the seat, without using voice commands.
The patent was approved in early April, according to China’s intellectual property administration records. Engineers who filed it described the feature as a solution for passengers needing bathroom access on long trips, during camping, or while living in the vehicle.
To manage odour, the unit uses a fan and an exhaust pipe that push air out of the car. A separate tank holds the waste and needs to be cleared out by the user.
The system also includes a rotating heating component that processes waste, dries solids, and converts liquid into vapor. When not in use, the toilet folds back under the seat, keeping the cabin clear.
A voice-controlled in-vehicle toilet with historical roots
The company has not announced any production vehicles fitted with this feature and did not respond to requests for comment. Whether the voice-controlled in-vehicle toilet will ever reach the market remains uncertain.
From karaoke systems to a voice-controlled in-vehicle toilet, Chinese EV makers are racing to stand out. See what one company just patented. pic.twitter.com/eqssjh07O0
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) April 17, 2026
The idea is not entirely new. Auction records from Sotheby’s show that a bespoke Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith from the 1950s was outfitted with both a passenger-seat toilet and a television set.
This patent fits into a broader pattern across China’s electric vehicle industry. Chinese EV brands have been adding unconventional features to their cars to compete in a saturated market. Karaoke systems and mini-fridges are now standard at many companies.
Price war pushes China’s EV makers to the edge
Nio has added a hot stone massage function to its seats. BYD, the world’s top-selling EV brand, announced in 2025 a drone system to be fitted across its full lineup. Moreover, XPeng plans to begin deliveries in 2026 of its Land Aircraft Carrier, a vehicle that carries a six-propeller flying craft inside it.
The competition is fierce. Dozens of brands fight for buyers in China’s EV market, and a prolonged price war has squeezed profits. Industry analysts have raised concerns that the competitive pressure could push many Chinese EV firms out of business.
Seres, the Chongqing-based company behind the patent, is among the few Chinese EV makers that have stayed profitable.
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