Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) is changing the design of the R2 SUV door handles as concerns were raised that the current design made the manual releases difficult to access in the event of a loss of power.
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the company plans to incorporate a manual release that is more clearly visible and located near the interior door handles. The R2 SUV is set to be released in the first half of 2026.
Rivian’s (NASDAQ:RIVN) decision to redesign the door handles comes as the controversial design faces regulatory scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration against Tesla (TSLA). Complaints that recessed door handles make it difficult or even impossible to enter or exit the vehicle during an emergency or accident have reportedly resulted in numerous injuries and even fatalities.
At the center of the NHTSA probe is whether door handles lose power when the battery is dead and the manual release cannot be accessed, a potentially life-threatening flaw for children or people with disabilities.
Last year, Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) changed the design of the R1 rear door handle to a location where an unlabeled panel must be removed and a release cord pulled. The convoluted and difficult-to-access release procedure resulted in a NHTSA complaint in June in which an owner complained the rear door release “is not intuitive nor is it reasonable to believe a small child or an older occupant” would be able to manipulate the release.
Currently, there are limited federal standards for the design of electric door handles, and carmakers claim the current design is to prevent an accidental opening of the vehicle while moving. Although the Rivian R1 was initially made with a traditional manual door handle, an electric handle was introduced in 2024 to address “design considerations and cost-savings” sources cited by Bloomberg said.