Rivian is reportedly modifying its door system due to safety issues.

      Rivian, The Drive

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      Recently, Tesla has garnered considerable attention—both legal and otherwise—for the electromechanical door system found in certain models like the Cybertruck and Model Y. Rivian has implemented similar technology in its Gen 2 R1S SUV and R1T pickup, which has also faced some criticism. Now, according to Bloomberg and citing unnamed sources, the company is reportedly redesigning this system for the upcoming smaller R2 model.

      The initial R1 electric vehicles featured fully mechanical door latches, but starting in 2025, the design shifted to a system without a physical link between the handle or button used by passengers and the door release. This change required the inclusion of backup, fail-safe door handles throughout, which are easy to locate for front passengers—they are black plastic and sit flush with the bottom of the door armrest, close to the button. They are positioned in the same spot as the mechanical handles on Gen 1 vehicles for front passengers.

      However, for rear passengers, the situation is more complex—this is what Rivian is reportedly working on for the R2 series. The manual pull-cord release in the back door of the Gen 2 R1S and R1T is not readily visible. Instead, it is concealed by a plastic panel that must be removed first, situated opposite the electronic door release button. The tweet below, showing diagrams from the Gen 2 R1 instruction manual, illustrates the new design well:

      Something I haven’t seen mentioned is that the new Rivian R1 Gen 2 requires rear seat passengers to remove a part of the door panel to reach the manual release. In an emergency, people often don’t respond appropriately and could waste valuable time trying to find the emergency release... pic.twitter.com/Z5zagbsab7— Jose | RivianTrackr (@RivianTrackr) June 9, 2024

      In a state of panic—especially in a situation where, heaven forbid, a child is trapped inside—someone could easily waste crucial seconds trying to find the emergency release. According to Bloomberg, both employees and customers have expressed concerns about this design to Rivian, prompting the automaker to reevaluate its strategy for the R2. For the smaller SUV, “the mechanism for the rear doors and positioning will be similar to the front doors,” one source reportedly stated.

      In a statement to Bloomberg, Rivian indicated that, "...similar to R1, R2 will meet or exceed all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including passenger egress from all doors in the event of a crash or emergency." The company also mentioned that there have been no reported injuries due to rear doors failing to open on the newer R1 vehicles.

      There are pairs of photos highlighting the differences in door handle designs between the Gen 1 (top) and Gen 2 (bottom) Rivian R1 series. It is worth noting that the position of the mechanical handle in the front doors remains unchanged, although Gen 2 vehicles also feature a button release. However, to access the mechanical release on the rear door of a Gen 2 model, the highlighted plastic panel in the bottom-right photo must first be removed to reveal it. Joel Feder

      At this point, it remains uncertain whether Rivian will rectify the existing system on the R1 duo. With global regulators increasingly focusing on the potential dangers of modern door handles, it wouldn't be surprising if the manufacturer decided to standardize its entire lineup using the R2 approach as a template.

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