A universal storage system for a motor vehicle includes an enclosure defining a chamber, a plurality of partitions, and a partition actuator for moving the partitions within the chamber to define a plurality of compartments. The system further includes a cover actuator for moving the cover elements to cover the compartments. The system further includes a user interface generating a deposit signal indicative of a size of an object to be deposited into the enclosure. The system further includes a controller generating first and second actuation signals. The partition actuator moves the partitions to the predetermined positions to define a compartment sized for receiving the object in response to receiving the first actuation signal from the controller. The cover actuator moves the cover elements to the predetermined locations for uncovering the compartment in response to receiving the second actuation signal from the controller.