Rivian Makes Emergency Exits Easier to Find in New R2 SUV

When seconds count in an emergency, finding a door handle shouldn't be a puzzle. Rivian just made that a lot easier in its new R2 SUV.

The electric vehicle maker redesigned the manual door releases in its upcoming R2 model, responding to growing safety concerns about hard-to-find emergency exits in cars with electronic handles. In older Rivian R1 vehicles, back seat passengers had to remove a door panel to find a hidden release cord, a design that could cost precious seconds during a crash or fire.

The new design moves the emergency release to the same front-of-handle position as the front doors, making it far more intuitive to find. While it's still tucked behind a small plastic cover that needs to be popped out, it's a significant improvement over the old hidden panel design.

The change comes as automakers face mounting pressure to rethink electronic door systems. When a car loses power in a crash, electronic handles stop working, and passengers need a manual backup that's easy to locate under stress.

Rivian isn't alone in making these safety upgrades. Tesla announced similar redesigns after investigations linked at least 15 crash deaths to doors that occupants or rescuers couldn't open in time.

Why This Inspires

This story shows what happens when companies listen to real safety concerns and act quickly. Rivian made these changes before the R2 even reaches production, demonstrating that customer safety can drive innovation faster than regulations alone.

The redesign isn't perfect. That plastic cover still adds an extra step that could confuse panicked passengers. But it represents a meaningful step toward making electric vehicles safer for everyone inside them.

Other automakers are watching closely. Ford already issued recalls for electronic latch problems in the Mustang Mach-E, and the industry is realizing that sleek design can't come at the cost of basic safety.

The R2 goes into production in a few months, and Rivian plans to release proper instructions for the new emergency release system. For the thousands of families who will drive these SUVs, that small design change could make all the difference when it matters most.