Changan’s Deepal has recently applied for a patent for a built-in in-car foot bath in China.
When it comes to introducing new technology in cars, there is little doubt that China is leading the way. Some of these innovations are getting a little out there though, not least with Changan potentially looking to introduce a built-in foot bath for rear passengers in its upcoming Deepal models.
Yes, Deepal has recently applied for a patent for a built-in in-car foot bath in China. According to patent application CN122873858A, the system consists of a foot bath basin and a retractable mechanism that connects it the front seat base.
When stowed away, the basin is hidden beneath the front passenger seat, tucked neatly into a dedicated storage cavity. It can then be unfolded for use whenever required, with the design incorporating anti-sloshing structures, flow-guiding holes and anti-sway features to keep the water from going everywhere.
Furthermore, the patent application does describe a quick-connect fitting that allows the foot bath to be drained via a pipeline within the vehicle. There is even apparently a dedicated disinfection assembly designed to be housed within the installation cavity, presumably to make this a more sanitary experience for repeated usage.
According to Deepal officials, this novel invention “aims to address the challenges associated with integrating foot-care equipment into vehicles, specifically regarding the consumption of interior space and the difficulty of adapting such devices to existing vehicle structures.” There is no word yet though on which Deepal models may eventually receive this rather unusual feature, or whether it will even make it into production.
Now for what it is worth, foot spas are generally quite popular in China, so perhaps this is not quite as bizarre an idea as it might initially sound. It should be highlighted too that this is arguably not even the quirkiest in-car water related feature, as fellow Chinese automaker Seres previously also patented an in-car toilet.
While on the wider topic of Deepal meanwhile but moving away from foot baths, there had previously been rumblings of the brand making its way to Malaysia under Bermaz. Those rumours have since gone rather quiet, though there is still the possibility of its EVs eventually arriving here under the guise of another established Japanese brand.
In any case, Deepal’s current flagship in its home market is the six-seat S09 electrified SUV. Among its notable features is the industry’s first integration of Huawei’s high-tier Qiankun hardware suite in the highly competitive 150,000-yuan segment, which in turn enables Level 3 semi-autonomous driving capabilities.
