Need something to hold on to? GM wants to put a handle in the headrest

General Motors has filed a patent for a headrest that can also work as a grab handle for passengers. The application, numbered US 12,617,326 B2, was submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office back on May 25, 2023, and was published on May 5, 2026.

The idea is simple: passengers don’t always find the factory grab handle on the pillar or above the door convenient. In those cases, people often grab the seatback or the headrest to climb in or out of the car. But those parts aren’t designed to take constant load like a proper handle, which over time can lead to durability or trim issues.

GM’s patent describes a seat with a recess on one or both side surfaces. A handle is built into that recess, giving the passenger something to hold. One version puts the handle directly into the headrest. If needed, there can be two handles — one on each side.

A key part of the design is an internal load-bearing element. According to the patent, the mounting components can run down into the seatback and transfer the load to the stronger parts of the frame. The point is for the handle to handle the passenger’s pull, rather than putting all the strain on the soft upholstery or the outer shell of the headrest.

Some versions of the handle would be fixed, while others would fold away: in the stowed position the handle hides inside the recess, and pops out when needed. For now this is only a patent, not a production option. GM has not said which models could get the new headrest, or whether the design will be put into production at all.