A system for accessing a wheel of a vehicle includes a support, a carrier, and a hinge joint. The support is affixed in a recess of a vehicle bed, and is positioned below the surface of the vehicle bed. The carrier is configured to be affixed to the wheel. When the carrier is affixed to the wheel, both the carrier and the wheel are accommodated in the recess and move as a substantially rigid body. The hinge joint couples the support and the carrier. The hinge joint has an axis substantially parallel to the ground and laterally across the vehicle bed. The carrier is capable of rotating about the hinge joint. The carrier and the wheel are capable of being rotated about the hinge joint out of the recess and onto the vehicle bed. One or more rotational elements may be included to affect rotational motion of the carrier.

A system for accessing a wheel of a vehicle includes a support, a carrier, and a hinge joint. The support is affixed in a recess of a vehicle bed, and is positioned below the surface of the vehicle bed. The carrier is configured to be affixed to the wheel. When the carrier is affixed to the wheel, both the carrier and the wheel are accommodated in the recess and move as a substantially rigid body. The hinge joint couples the support and the carrier. The hinge joint has an axis substantially parallel to the ground and laterally across the vehicle bed. The carrier is capable of rotating about the hinge joint. The carrier and the wheel are capable of being rotated about the hinge joint out of the recess and onto the vehicle bed. One or more rotational elements may be included to affect rotational motion of the carrier.

An electric vehicle may include a body; a spare tire disposed in a rear portion of the body; and a brace fixed to the body, extending along a vehicle longitudinal direction, and supporting the spare tire from below. The brace may include a front end fixed to the body, a rear end fixed to the body at a position rearward of the front end, and a bent portion located between the front end and the rear end. The bent portion of the brace is located above a straight line extending between the front end and the rear end of the brace.

An electric vehicle may include a body; a spare tire disposed in a rear portion of the body; and a brace fixed to the body, extending along a vehicle longitudinal direction, and supporting the spare tire from below. The brace may include a front end fixed to the body, a rear end fixed to the body at a position rearward of the front end, and a bent portion located between the front end and the rear end. The bent portion of the brace is located above a straight line extending between the front end and the rear end of the brace.

A vehicle rear structure includes a spare tire bracket which has a longer rear section than a front section thereof in the vehicle with respect to a spare tire fixing portion, a spare tire fixed to the spare tire fixing portion, and reinforcement member having a second inclination reinforcing portion extending upward from a rear section of a rear floor pan towards the front of the vehicle. The spare tire bracket has a first easy bending section provided behind the spare tire fixing portion in the vehicle. The reinforcement member has a second easy bending section provided behind the spare tire fixing portion in the vehicle.

A vehicle rear structure includes a spare tire bracket which has a longer rear section than a front section thereof in the vehicle with respect to a spare tire fixing portion, a spare tire fixed to the spare tire fixing portion, and reinforcement member having a second inclination reinforcing portion extending upward from a rear section of a rear floor pan towards the front of the vehicle. The spare tire bracket has a first easy bending section provided behind the spare tire fixing portion in the vehicle. The reinforcement member has a second easy bending section provided behind the spare tire fixing portion in the vehicle.

Vehicle tailgate assembly that includes a sill flap and tailgate, where the sill flap has rollers that contact the tailgate while the sill flap and tailgate are opened or closed. The sill flap thus maintains rolling contact with the tailgate during opening and closing operations. In embodiments of the disclosure, the tailgate opens to leave a gap between the edge of the vehicle bed and the edge of the tailgate, and the sill flap is pivoted into this gap. While being pivoted into this open position, the sill flap rollers rotatably contact the tailgate, so that the sill flap maintains rolling contact with the tailgate rather than frictional contact therewith. This prevents damage to the sill flap and tailgate when opened and closed.

The invention concerns a rear part (4) of a vehicle (1) that comprises a rear structure (41) and a spare wheel (3), the rear structure (41) comprising a luggage compartment floor (43) in which a well (44) is formed in order for said spare wheel (3) to be positioned therein, the well (44) comprising a bottom (47) and at least one first wall positioned facing the spare wheel (3) and forming a rear wall or one of the two side walls of the well, the bottom of the well comprising attachment means (6) for securing the spare wheel (3) thereto, the well (44) comprising control means (7) positioned between said first wall (45) and the attachment means (6), said control means (7) being suitable for releasing the spare wheel (3) from the bottom (47) of the well (44) in the event of an impact against said rear part (4) of the vehicle, on the side of the first wall (45) of the well (44), in alignment with the control means (7).

The invention concerns a rear part (4) of a vehicle (1) that comprises a rear structure (41) and a spare wheel (3), the rear structure (41) comprising a luggage compartment floor (43) in which a well (44) is formed in order for said spare wheel (3) to be positioned therein, the well (44) comprising a bottom (47) and at least one first wall positioned facing the spare wheel (3) and forming a rear wall or one of the two side walls of the well, the bottom of the well comprising attachment means (6) for securing the spare wheel (3) thereto, the well (44) comprising control means (7) positioned between said first wall (45) and the attachment means (6), said control means (7) being suitable for releasing the spare wheel (3) from the bottom (47) of the well (44) in the event of an impact against said rear part (4) of the vehicle, on the side of the first wall (45) of the well (44), in alignment with the control means (7).

A trunk structure for a vehicle is provided which can house both a spare tire and a tonneau cover below a floor board in a trunk, and has high operability in housing, removing, and replacing the spare tire and the tonneau cover. A trunk of a vehicle has a spare tire housing and a tonneau cover housing below a floor board. A tonneau cover has a tube portion, a sheet portion, and an extension plate portion. The tonneau cover housing has a portion located between the spare tire and a rear end of the trunk, in which the tube portion of the tonneau cover is stored in a rolled state. The housing also has a portion above a part of the spare tire where the extension plate portion, extending outward from the tube portion when the sheet portion is rolled in the tube portion, is horizontally disposed.