Door assembly with collapsible carrier

A collapsible carrier plate configured to be installed in a door assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

• inner and outer panels defining a door panel structure with an opening in the inner panel extending into an internal door cavity, the collapsible carrier plate comprising:
• a first carrier member connected to a second carrier member via a connection mechanism for movement between a first position defining a collapsed arrangement for the carrier plate and a second position defining an expanded arrangement for the carrier plate, the carrier plate operable in its collapsed arrangement to permit installation through the opening in the inner door panel into the internal door cavity and in its expanded arrangement to permit mounting within the internal cavity, wherein the carrier plate is directly securable to an inner surface of the inner panel to facilitate mounting of the carrier plate to the door panel structure;
• and
• a locking mechanism for holding the first carrier member in its second position relative to the second carrier member;
• wherein the first carrier member and the second carrier member have a sliding connection therebetween, where a length of the carrier plate in the expanded arrangement is greater than a length of the carrier plate in the collapsed arrangement.