A mounting structure for a vehicle accessory comprises a panel including a surface defining a channel with a wall disposed between two sides extending from the surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge, and a tab, attached with the vehicle accessory, that mates with the channel, the tab being confined by the sides and the ledge between the surface and the wall such that the vehicle accessory is slideably and removably attached to the panel.

A vehicle has an automatically tiltable seat, a plurality of seat actuators fully supporting the automatically-tiltable seat to enable the automatically tiltable seat to pitch or roll to compensate for motion of the vehicle, and a processor to predict the motion of the vehicle and to control the plurality of seat actuators. The plurality of seat actuators automatically adjust the pitch or roll of the automatically tiltable seat in response to the motion of the vehicle. The seat actuators also provide shock absorption.

A handle with a mounting track includes a handle section. One or more legs extend from the handle section and are attachable to a surface. When the leg is attached to the surface, the handle section forms a graspable handle. A mounting track is formed along at least a portion of the handle section. The mounting track includes a base, two vertical rails extending opposite each other from the base, and two horizontal beams each extending from a different one of the vertical rails over the base toward the other horizontal beam. The horizontal beams are laterally spaced apart from each other by a first distance. The vertical rails and the horizontal beams define a track within which a retention element of a mount assembly can move.

A mounting arrangement includes a first bracket, a second bracket including a slot, and a series of washers, with two resilient washers. First and second bolts extend through the first bracket, a first and second of the washers, the slot of the second bracket, a third and fourth of the washers, the resilient washers, and a fifth and sixth of the washers. The second bracket frictionally engages the first and second washers, and frictionally engages the third and fourth washers. The resilient washers are each located between the respective first, second, third and fourth washers, and the fifth and sixth washers. The bolts are engaged by nuts compressing the first and second resilient washers with a compressive force between the washers, supporting the first bracket and the second bracket relative to each other and permitting the first bracket and the second bracket to slide relative to each other.

A storage carrier for use with a tailgate of a vehicle. The storage carrier includes a hinge mechanism attachable to an outer face of the tailgate. The storage carrier includes a cabinet including first, opposing second and rear sides. The first side has a resting surface. The cabinet is attached a hinge mechanism adjacent the second and rear sides. The cabinet pivots between stored and deployed positions. In the stored position the first side is disposed adjacent the outer face and generally disposed in a vertical orientation with the tailgate in a closed position. In the deployed position the first side is generally disposed in a horizontal orientation with the resting surface being exposed away from the outer face with the tailgate in a closed position. The storage carrier further includes a cabinet recess formed in the cabinet.

A smartphone holding assembly for supporting a personal electronic device in a vehicle includes a drawer that is slidably integrated into a dashboard of a vehicle. A base is coupled to the drawer, a disk is rotatably coupled to the base and the disk is exposed when the drawer is positioned in the extended position. A stand is movably coupled to the disk. The stand is positionable in a deployed position to support a personal electronic device at a preferred angle for viewing during driving. A wireless charger is integrated into the base for charging the personal electronic device. The wireless charger is in electrical communication with a power source comprising the electrical system of the vehicle.

A front bumper assembly including a vehicle camera relocation mount disposed within a front wall in a manner that leaves no visible sign of a mounting bracket configuration for the vehicle camera. Another front bumper assembly includes a central opening with a removable metal grill insert. The removable metal grill insert configured to connected with the front bumper in a manner that leaves no visible sign of its mounting configuration.

Center console provided with a fixed rail, extending in a longitudinal direction, a translatable member, a gearbox assembly and first and second cables. The translatable member may be coupled to the fixed rail and configured to move between a first position and a second position. The gearbox assembly may include a cable drum configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. The first and second cables may each be coupled to the translatable member and a cable drum. As the cable drum rotates in the first rotational direction, the first cable may translate the translatable member towards the first position. As the cable drum rotates in the second rotational direction, the second cable may translate the translatable member towards the second position.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to repositioning a rooftop sensor of an autonomous vehicle when needed to reduce the overall height of the autonomous vehicle. For instance, while an autonomous vehicle is being controlled in an autonomous driving mode, a low clearance zone may be identified. An activation location may be determined based on the low clearance zone and a current speed of the autonomous vehicle. Once the activation location is reached by the autonomous vehicle, a motor may be caused to reposition the rooftop sensor. In addition, in some instances, after the autonomous vehicle has passed the low clearance zone, the motor may be caused to reposition the rooftop sensor again.

An arrangement for a sensor having a sensor-active surface on or behind an exterior attachment part of a vehicle includes a sensor guide. The sensor guide includes a traction element made of a shape-memory alloy and a restoring element. The traction element moves the sensor in the direction of the vehicle interior between an active position and a protected position in response to a detected impending collision in the low-speed range or a detected collision in the low-speed range. The restoring element moves the sensor back to the active position from the protected position.