Deepal Files Patent for Fold-Out In-Car Foot Bath

Deepal, the new-energy vehicle brand of China's Changan Automobile, has applied for a patent on a foot bath built into the car's cabin. The basin stays hidden in a cavity under a seat and unfolds when passengers want to soak their feet.

The application, titled "vehicle-mounted foot washing device and vehicle", was filed with China's patent office on July 31, 2026, and published on October 9 under the number CN122873858A. It is an application only. It has not been granted, and Deepal has not said whether any car will get the feature.

In the filing, Deepal says passengers' feet can become sore on long journeys and that existing in-car foot-care devices take up room or get in the way of occupants' legs.

Deepal's answer is a basin that disappears when it is not needed. In the main design, it sits in a cavity under a seat and slides out on electrically driven rails. A spring-loaded scissor mechanism then unfolds it into a tub with flexible side walls that fold flat again for storage. Other versions place it in front of the front passenger seat or in the boot.

The basin connects to the car's power, a water supply, and a drain line through self-sealing quick couplings, so it can be removed for cleaning. A perforated divider inside stops water from sloshing. The basin also has a heater with water-level and temperature sensors, and motorised rollers on its floor for foot massage. Passengers control the massage mode, water temperature, and running time through the infotainment screen, and ultraviolet lamps disinfect the basin once it is stowed.

The patent also lists safety locks. The basin cannot be extended while the car is being driven. Heating and massage work only when the basin is fully unfolded and holds enough water, and the heater shuts off with an alarm if the water gets too hot. Disinfection runs only when the car is parked or switched off and no one is inside.

Deepal has not named any model or launch date, and its customer service told Chinese media it had no information on the patent. Carmakers file many patents that never reach showrooms, so this is an idea, not a confirmed feature.

The filing follows a Seres patent for an in-car toilet earlier this year, as Chinese brands experiment with turning cabins into rest spaces for long trips and camping.