GM patents transformable door panels for extra seats and tables
GM's transformable door panels: seats, tables, and work surfaces
GM patents transformable door panels for extra seats and tables
General Motors files a patent for door panels that transform into seats, tables, or work surfaces, enhancing vehicle interior flexibility for future models.
2026-01-18T17:45:23+03:00
2026-01-18T17:45:23+03:00
2026-01-18T17:45:23+03:00
General Motors continues to explore the concept of a transformable interior, filing a patent for an unusual solution in future vehicles. The innovation involves door panels that can change position to serve as an extra seat, table, or work surface.Patent number US 12 515 592 B1 was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 3, 2024, and published on January 6, 2026. The inventors listed are GM engineers from Michigan: Ki Hyun An, Joseph F. Szczerba, and Bobin Kil.The system operates in two modes. In its standard state, the panel looks like a conventional door trim. When needed, it extends outward via a lever mechanism and locks into a deployed position. The design allows for rotation, vertical movement, and adjustment of the distance from the door, enabling various use cases.An interesting feature is the panel's two-sided structure. One side can be rigid, serving as a table or platform, while the other is made of soft materials suitable for seating. Depending on the task, the panel can be flipped to select the desired surface.When folded, the mechanism is completely hidden inside the door, leaving the familiar interior unchanged. The patent covers adapting the system for different body types and doors, including models with varying opening directions.Patents like this highlight how automakers are increasingly viewing the car as a multifunctional space, especially with an eye toward autonomous models where the cabin must be as flexible as possible.
General Motors, GM patent, transformable interior, door panels, extra seat, table, work surface, vehicle innovation, automotive technology, multifunctional space
2026
Michael Powers
news
GM's transformable door panels: seats, tables, and work surfaces
General Motors files a patent for door panels that transform into seats, tables, or work surfaces, enhancing vehicle interior flexibility for future models.
Michael Powers, Editor
General Motors continues to explore the concept of a transformable interior, filing a patent for an unusual solution in future vehicles. The innovation involves door panels that can change position to serve as an extra seat, table, or work surface.
Patent number US 12 515 592 B1 was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 3, 2024, and published on January 6, 2026. The inventors listed are GM engineers from Michigan: Ki Hyun An, Joseph F. Szczerba, and Bobin Kil.
The system operates in two modes. In its standard state, the panel looks like a conventional door trim. When needed, it extends outward via a lever mechanism and locks into a deployed position. The design allows for rotation, vertical movement, and adjustment of the distance from the door, enabling various use cases.
An interesting feature is the panel's two-sided structure. One side can be rigid, serving as a table or platform, while the other is made of soft materials suitable for seating. Depending on the task, the panel can be flipped to select the desired surface.
When folded, the mechanism is completely hidden inside the door, leaving the familiar interior unchanged. The patent covers adapting the system for different body types and doors, including models with varying opening directions.
Patents like this highlight how automakers are increasingly viewing the car as a multifunctional space, especially with an eye toward autonomous models where the cabin must be as flexible as possible.
