23:50 10-01-2026

GM patent reveals a center-console armrest that rises level

General Motors has filed patent application US 2025/0388154 A1 describing a novel movable armrest integrated into a vehicle’s center console. Its signature capability is vertical travel while staying perfectly horizontal. In the lower position it fully covers the storage compartment, and when raised it leaves the bin open for easy access.

The solution, attributed to Shuguang Chen and Ciheng Zhang, employs a system of hinges, linkages, gears, and support plates to move the armrest smoothly without changing its angle. The filing also outlines a powered version with an electric motor, a worm gear, and a force sensor, allowing precise control of movement and helping prevent unintended shifts or pinching of objects and hands.

Concepts like this don’t often make it to production, yet the patent signals GM’s drive to make its cabins more convenient and technologically refined. If it reaches the assembly line, the system could be positioned as a regular feature in premium trims.

It’s a small touch that can genuinely lift day-to-day comfort—particularly in higher-end models, where careful execution of every detail matters. The real test will be seeing the idea in customer cars rather than leaving it confined to the patent archive.