A vehicle includes a first pillar. The vehicle includes a second pillar having a distal end and spaced from the first pillar. The vehicle includes an extendible member supported by the first pillar and moveable from a retracted position where the extendible member has a first length to an extended position where the extendible member extends to the second pillar spaced from the distal end and has a second length greater than the first length.

A structural member for an automobile to be disclosed includes a press-formed product formed from one steel sheet and a reinforcing member fixed to the press-formed product. The press-formed product includes two vertical wall portions and a top plate portion linking the two vertical wall portions. The reinforcing member is a member which has an L-shaped cross section and includes a first plate-like portion and a second plate-like portion. The first plate-like portion is fixed to one of the vertical wall portions such that the second plate-like portion protrudes toward an outward direction from the vertical wall portion side along the top plate portion.

A structural member for an automobile to be disclosed includes a press-formed product formed from one steel sheet and a reinforcing member fixed to the press-formed product. The press-formed product includes two vertical wall portions and a top plate portion linking the two vertical wall portions. The reinforcing member is a member which has an L-shaped cross section and includes a first plate-like portion and a second plate-like portion. The first plate-like portion is fixed to one of the vertical wall portions such that the second plate-like portion protrudes toward an outward direction from the vertical wall portion side along the top plate portion.

The technology relates to assisting in the closing of a vehicle door by automatically pulling a door closed. One or more computing devices having one or more processors may receive, from one or more sensors, information indicating that a door on the vehicle is not closed. In response to the received information indicating that the door is not closed, the one or more computing devices may determine to send a triggering signal to close the door. The one or more computing devices may send the triggering signal to the actuator and the actuator may receive the triggering signal. In response to receiving the triggering signal the actuator may be activated to close the door of the vehicle without user input.

In an occupant assisting apparatus, a destination arrival determination unit determines whether a vehicle has arrived at a destination of an occupant, a situation determination unit determines whether a surrounding situation is safe for the occupant to exit the vehicle based on a sensing result obtained from a surrounding situation detection sensor for detecting the surrounding situation of the vehicle when the destination arrival determination unit determines that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, and a door lock controller unlocks a door at a doorway of the vehicle when the surrounding situation is determined to be safe for the occupant to exit the vehicle.

A vehicle door or tailgate, in particular for motor vehicles, with a frame which is formed as a support structure of the door or tailgate and is separate from an exterior and/or interior trim, wherein the frame is produced separately from plastic and/or a composite material, wherein the frame comprises at least two components which are connected to one another, and wherein the at least two components have connection means which comprise tongue and groove connections.

A vehicle door or tailgate, in particular for motor vehicles, with a frame which is formed as a support structure of the door or tailgate and is separate from an exterior and/or interior trim, wherein the frame is produced separately from plastic and/or a composite material, wherein the frame comprises at least two components which are connected to one another, and wherein the at least two components have connection means which comprise tongue and groove connections.

A vehicle door latch device comprises a casing, an operating lever, an auxiliary cover, and a hinge shaft on the auxiliary cover. The hinge shaft of the auxiliary cover rotatably engages in between a pair of elastic holding portions of the casing. A stopped portion is disposed on the auxiliary cover, and a stopper portion which the stopped portion can contact is disposed on the casing. When the auxiliary cover is rotated to open, the stopped portion gets over an end of the stopper portion and move to an opposite side, thereby holding the auxiliary cover provisionally in an open position.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for capacitive proximity sensors of vehicle doors. An example vehicle includes an outer surface layer, sheet metal for providing rigidity, a low dielectric layer, and a capacitive sensor. The capacitive sensor includes a receiving layer positioned between the outer surface layer and the low dielectric layer and the sheet metal that functions as a transmitting layer. The low dielectric layer separates the receiving layer and the sheet metal.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for capacitive proximity sensors of vehicle doors. An example vehicle includes an outer surface layer, sheet metal for providing rigidity, a low dielectric layer, and a capacitive sensor. The capacitive sensor includes a receiving layer positioned between the outer surface layer and the low dielectric layer and the sheet metal that functions as a transmitting layer. The low dielectric layer separates the receiving layer and the sheet metal.