Tailgate locking system and method of operating

A vehicle comprising:

• a passenger cabin;
• cabin doors that are rotatable to selectively provide access to the passenger cabin;
• a cargo bed extending from the passenger cabin;
• a tailgate that is rotatable to selectively provide access to the cargo bed;
• a locking system comprising:
• a first locking mechanism associated with the cabin doors;
• a second locking mechanism associated with the tailgate to provide a tailgate power locking feature, wherein the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are selectively lockable and unlockable;
• and
• a lock controller in communication with the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism, wherein the lock controller is operable in a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein the tailgate power locking feature is enabled when the lock controller is in the first operating mode such that the lock controller is configured to selectively lock and unlock the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism synchronously in response to user commands, and wherein the tailgate power locking feature is disabled when the lock controller is in the second operating mode such that the lock controller is configured to lock and unlock the first locking mechanism independently of the second locking mechanism in response to the user commands, such that the second locking mechanism is not responsive to the user commands, and such that the second locking mechanism is manually lockable and unlockable to selectively provide access to the cargo bed via the tailgate regardless of the locked or unlocked status of the first locking mechanism.

A method of operating a locking system of a vehicle that includes a passenger cabin, cabin doors that are rotatable to selectively provide access to the passenger cabin, a cargo bed extending from the passenger cabin, and a tailgate that is rotatable to selectively provide access to the cargo bed, the method comprising:

• setting, based on reception of an input on a user interface, the locking system in a first operating mode or a second operating mode, wherein the locking system includes a first locking mechanism associated with the cabin doors of the vehicle, and a second locking mechanism associated with the tailgate of the vehicle;
• on command, synchronously locking and unlocking the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism when the locking system is set in the first operating mode;
• and
• on command, locking and unlocking the first locking mechanism independently of the second locking mechanism when the locking system is set in the second operating mode, wherein the second locking mechanism is not responsive to user commands when the locking system is set in the second operating mode, and wherein the second locking mechanism is manually lockable and unlockable to selectively provide access to the cargo bed via the tailgate regardless of the locked or unlocked status of the first locking mechanism.