14:51 04-10-2025

Rivian R2 to add clearer mechanical emergency door release

Rivian plans to rethink the door layout on its upcoming R2 crossover after criticism over how hard it can be to get out of electric vehicles after a crash. The push comes amid incidents involving Tesla fires, where occupants struggled to escape because of complex door releases.

According to Bloomberg, Rivian engineers are moving the mechanical unlock closer to the electronic switch and making it easier to spot. As it stands on the R1 and Tesla Model Y, passengers have to remove an interior panel and tug a hidden cable—an awkward workaround if the car loses power.

The company said safety remains the top priority and that the R2 will meet all U.S. federal standards, including the requirement to open doors in an emergency. Rivian expects that a clearer, more intuitive backup release will build confidence in its next wave of EVs and bolster the brand’s standing.

The absence of unified rules for emergency egress in electric cars continues to worry safety specialists. Michael Brooks, who heads the Center for Auto Safety, noted that without firm guidance, automakers resort to different fixes, leaving drivers to study how to get out of each model in advance.

A plainly marked mechanical lever placed next to the electronic control sounds like the kind of simple redundancy EVs have been missing. Hidden pull-cables may satisfy a checklist, but when seconds matter, ergonomics and visibility decide whether a system actually helps. If Rivian follows through, the R2 could set a more practical template while the industry waits for clearer standards.