Deepal has filed a patent for an in-car foot bath, a comfort feature that would extend telescopically from beneath the front-passenger seat. The basin is designed to be removed for cleaning. The filing, reported by Car News China, describes a built-in anti-sway structure intended to reduce the chance of water sloshing onto the vehicle floor while it is moving.
The structure divides the basin’s interior into sections while allowing water to pass between them through openings. According to the filing, this arrangement is meant to restrict large movements of liquid and reduce differences in water level across the basin. Deepal presents the idea as a response to foot soreness and fatigue during long journeys, when occupants may remain in a fixed position for an extended period.
The concept fits a broader push by Chinese automakers to distinguish their vehicles with unusual comfort features. Chery received a patent in 2022 for a foot bath with water heating, massage and drainage, but has not introduced it in a vehicle. Other examples cited include a removable-compartment toilet from Rox Motor and a Seres patent for a toilet stored beneath a passenger seat. As with those filings, Deepal’s patent does not mean the feature will become a production offering.