Chinese Brand Deepal Patents a Built-In Foot Bath for Car Cabins

Deepal, a Chinese electric car brand owned by the automotive group Changan, has patented an unusual piece of cabin equipment: a slide-out foot bath for passengers. This is according to the patent application. It is not yet known whether the idea will reach actual production.

How the bath would work

According to the filing, the bath sits under the front seats. When needed, it slides toward the rear of the car, allowing passengers to wash and rest their feet while driving. The device includes heated water and integrated massage rollers at the bottom of the tub. Space would also be needed in the cabin for towels, since wet feet on the carpets would create a risk of damp and mould.

Water in motion

The main challenge is how water behaves while driving: even an ordinary coffee cup can spill onto a car's panel in sharp turns, so an open water tank seems risky. Deepal's engineers say the tank is designed with special wave dampers that prevent the water from splashing out.

The system also has recirculation vents, a disinfection module for hygiene, and a quick-connect drainage system so used water can be easily drained from the vehicle.

Will it reach the market

Carmakers often patent unusual ideas to strengthen their intellectual property rights, so it is unclear whether such an option will ever be mass-produced. At the same time, foot baths and foot spa treatments are very popular in China, so demand on the local market cannot be ruled out.