For wheelchair users who drive, storing a folding chair can be one of the most awkward parts of getting into a car. It may require lifting the wheelchair across the body, placing it on a passenger seat or relying on someone else to load it into the trunk. Chinese mobility-equipment manufacturer Mingao has developed a different solution: put the wheelchair on the roof and let an electric mechanism handle the lifting.
The Mingao WS3A Rooftop Wheelchair Storage Device is a powered carrier that stores a folded wheelchair inside a protective enclosure mounted above the vehicle. Using a wireless remote, the driver can lower the mechanism beside the door, retrieve or attach the wheelchair and send it back to the roof without leaving the car seat.
How the rooftop wheelchair carrier works
When activated, the carrier opens and extends its lifting mechanism down the side of the car. After the folded wheelchair is secured, the system raises it, draws it into the rooftop box and closes the enclosure. The sequence runs in reverse when the driver reaches their destination.
Mingao says storing a wheelchair takes less than 50 seconds, while retrieval takes approximately 45 seconds. The device is offered in right- and left-operating versions, identified as the WS3AR and WS3AL, allowing the mechanism to be configured for the appropriate side of the vehicle.
The rooftop location leaves the trunk and passenger compartment available for luggage and occupants. It also keeps wet or dirty wheelchair wheels outside the cabin. A sealing strip around the enclosure is intended to provide weather and dust protection while the car is moving.
Powered by the car’s 12-volt outlet
The WS3A operates on a 12-volt, 10-amp supply. According to Mingao, it can plug into the car’s accessory socket or a power outlet in the trunk, avoiding permanent changes to the vehicle’s original electrical system.
Control buttons operate the lifting and lowering sequence, while an audible buzzer warns people nearby when the mechanism is moving. Physical and software limit switches stop the motor at its designated positions, helping prevent the mechanism from over-travelling or stalling.
The carrier measures 1,630 mm long, 1,070 mm wide and 450 mm high when closed. It weighs less than 50 kg and has a maximum lifting capacity of 28 kg. A compatible wheelchair must fold to no more than 900 mm in height and 330 mm in thickness.
Vehicle and wheelchair compatibility matter
Mingao describes the WS3A as suitable for most cars and says it can be fitted to various roof racks. In practice, buyers would still need to confirm the vehicle’s permitted roof load, the suitability of its rack and whether the folded wheelchair falls within the stated size and weight limits. The 28 kg capacity means the system is principally intended for folding manual wheelchairs rather than heavier powered models.
The rooftop box also adds at least 450 mm to the vehicle’s height, plus any clearance created by the roof rack. That is worth remembering before entering low garages or height-restricted parking areas.
Some demonstration footage pairs the rooftop carrier with a powered transfer seat that slides out of the car and lowers toward wheelchair height. That seat is a separate adaptive system, not part of the WS3A carrier itself, but the two technologies show how multiple vehicle modifications can work together to support independent travel.
Mingao has not published a price, warranty period or market-by-market availability for the WS3A on its product page. The company instead directs potential buyers to enquire about compatibility and purchasing. For someone whose car and folding wheelchair meet the requirements, however, the system offers a clever alternative to lifting a chair into the cabin or surrendering valuable trunk space.
Product page: Mingao WS3A
