Rivian redesigns R2 door release amid safety scrutiny

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has reportedly updated the manual door-release latch on its upcoming R2 SUV. The vehicle itself is not set to enter production for several months, but a spate of first-look videos released on Tuesday has revealed the design changes. In these vehicles, electronic door handles—systems that operate via electronic buttons rather than traditional mechanical linkages—are used to open the doors. While the front doors of the R2 open from the inside in the same way as the existing R1 line, featuring an electronic button and a manual door-release latch tucked into the front of the interior handle, the rear doors have received a notable update.

On the older R1 vehicles, rear passengers had to first pull a panel off the door to access the manual release cord that operates the latch. For the upcoming R2 SUV, Rivian has moved this release cord to the front of the interior handle, matching the layout of the front seats. Although the cord is still tucked behind a piece of plastic that must be popped out—making it slightly harder to access than the front door manual releases—the new placement is in a more logical spot than being hidden behind a panel. A video published by Zack Nelson of the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything demonstrated the new layout, showing where passengers must reach to trigger the mechanical override if the vehicle loses power and limits the electronic door release.

The redesign comes amid intense industry-wide scrutiny over electronic door handles and their accessibility during emergencies. Carmakers have faced criticism for making manual overrides difficult to locate when electronic systems fail, which typically occurs during major crashes when every moment is critical. The most prominent safety concerns have centered on Tesla. Bloomberg News found at least 15 deaths in crashes where there is evidence that occupants (or rescuers) were unable to open the doors. Other manufacturers have also struggled with these systems; Ford previously issued a recall for its Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle due to a power-delivery issue affecting its electronic door latches.

Why it matters

Rivian’s move to relocate the R2’s manual door release reflects growing industry pressure to ensure safety overrides remain accessible in vehicles that rely heavily on electronic door systems.