Rivian redesigns rear door manual release on R2 SUV

The new design aims to make the manual release easier to access in an emergency.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Rivian has made changes to the manual door release on its upcoming R2 SUV in response to concerns about electronic door handles being too difficult to access during emergencies. The rear doors now have the manual release cord located in a more accessible position, though it is still behind a piece of plastic that must be popped out. This is an improvement over the R1 vehicles, where the manual release was hidden behind a panel. The changes come as automakers face pressure to make manual door releases more user-friendly, especially after incidents where Tesla owners have struggled to exit vehicles during crashes.

Why it matters

Easy access to manual door releases is a critical safety feature, especially in emergency situations like major crashes where every second counts. Rivian's redesign of the R2's rear door release aims to address concerns that electronic door handles can be too difficult to operate, which has been a problem for some Tesla models. This change could help improve passenger safety in Rivian's upcoming SUV.

The details

On the R2 SUV, the rear door manual release cord is now located in the front part of the interior door handle, similar to the front door manual releases. However, it is still behind a piece of plastic that must be popped out, making it slightly harder to access than the front door releases. In contrast, on Rivian's existing R1 vehicles, passengers had to first pull off a panel to access the rear door manual release cord.

  • The R2 SUV is set to go into production in the coming months.

The players

Rivian

An American electric vehicle manufacturer that has been under pressure, along with other automakers, to make manual door releases more accessible.

Tesla

An American electric vehicle manufacturer that has faced criticism over the difficulty in accessing manual door releases in some of its models, which has been linked to several deaths.

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What’s next

Rivian has not yet provided detailed instructions on how to access the manual rear door release in the R2 SUV, but the company is expected to do so as the vehicle nears production.

The takeaway

Rivian's redesign of the rear door manual release on the R2 SUV is a step in the right direction, making it more accessible than in the company's previous models. However, the release is still not as easy to access as the front door manual releases, highlighting the ongoing challenge for automakers to balance electronic convenience with critical safety features.