While most car makers are focused on new-car accessories like heated seats, dual-zone climate control and phone connectivity, a Chinese car brand has taken a somewhat sideways step by filing a patent for an in-car toilet.

Yep, on 22 April last year, Chinese automaker Seres filed a patent for an in-car throne, and it was authorised on 10 April 2026, according to a report published by Chinese media outlet Sayan Tech.

The patent is for a device primarily consisting of a toilet body and a sliding rail assembly. In layman’s terms, the toilet part of the seat slides underneath and is pulled forward when needed, before being pushed back once you’ve, ahem, concluded your business.

The patent goes beyond just the toilet-in-seat assembly, though; it also includes an extraction fan set-up to help avoid the obvious downside of going potty in the tight confines of a car. The toilet has a removable tank that is emptied manually, so those who enjoy caravanning will be right at home.

So, why, you may ask? While the in-car toilet idea might seem gimmicky, the Chinese car market is one of the most competitive and brutal in the world. Makers are fitting any and all forms of comforts and infotainment systems to cars to get buyers over the line, including karaoke machines. It is also worth pointing out that patents often don’t end up leading to real-world products; companies tend to file them for testing, or simply to slow down the opposition.

And the car loo idea is not without precedent. As CarScoops pointed out in its coverage of this story, a 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith limousine by Vignale was sold at auction by RM Sotheby’s last year with what was described in the auction listing as a “a gold-plated toilet-cum-champagne cooler”.

So, would you option a glorified drop toilet in your next family car?