Chinese carmaker Seres patents voice-controlled “in-vehicle toilet”

In-vehicle toilets are rare – mostly found in long-distance coaches – but are not unheard of in cars.

In the 1950s, a special version of a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith included an in-built television set and a toilet beneath the passenger seat, according to auction house Sotheby’s, external.

Seres, along with its subsidiary brand Aito, are known for making electric sport utility vehicles – larger cars that stand taller off the ground and have more cargo space.

Most of the company’s cars are sold in mainland China, though Seres has also expanded to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

With dozens of competing brands, China’s EV market has become heavily saturated leading to a costly price war that has chipped away at companies’ profits.

Seres is one of a few Chinese EV companies that have turned a profit, including world-leading BYD.

Many analysts have sounded the alarm that a vast number of Chinese EV firms are at risk of collapse.