Seres Granted Patent for Concealable In-Car Toilet Under Seat for Long-Distance Emergencies

On April 14, Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. was granted a utility model patent titled "On-board Toilet and Vehicle" by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), with publication number CN224104011U. The patent application was filed on April 22, 2025, and approved on April 10 of the same month. The patented design includes a toilet unit and a sliding rail mechanism composed of a fixed rail and a movable rail. The movable rail is connected to the vehicle seat and is normally stowed beneath the seat, occupying no additional space. When needed, it can be pulled out for use and then pushed back into place afterward. The design aims to address passengers’ emergency toileting needs during long-distance travel—particularly in scenarios such as highway congestion or extended road trips. It also takes into account unpredictable toileting situations involving special groups like young children during family outings. In the future, this feature could be offered as an optional personalized configuration. However, it remains unclear whether it will be implemented in mass-produced vehicle models. Technical challenges related to odor containment of waste and prevention of in-cabin air pollution still need to be resolved before the patent can be practically applied.