Overview

• Rivian plans to reposition a clearly visible manual release next to the electric interior handles on the R2’s rear doors, according to Bloomberg reporting.
• The company says it is building hundreds of production‑intent R2 prototypes for real‑world testing and targets a first‑half‑2026 launch with entry pricing around $45,000.
• Rivian states its current door‑handle design has not caused injuries, though owners have reported failures and confusing manual backups on existing models.
• U.S. regulators opened an investigation into Tesla door‑handle failures after nine complaints, including four cases where owners broke windows to regain entry, and Tesla says it is working on a redesign.
• China’s industry ministry has proposed a safety standard targeting concealed electronic handles, a notable step in a market where roughly 60% of top‑selling NEVs use such designs.