Cladding device for a side sill of a passenger vehicle and method for operating such a cladding device

A cladding device of a side sill of a passenger vehicle, comprising:

• an inherently rigid outer cladding element disposed in a longitudinal region of the side sill below a door opening of the passenger vehicle which is displaceable between a cladding position and a release position;
• and
• a flexible cladding element, wherein an end of the flexible cladding element is disposed at least indirectly on the inherently rigid outer cladding element and is displaceable with the inherently rigid outer cladding element during a displacement movement between the cladding position and the release position, such that the flexible cladding element changes shape between the cladding position and the release position;
• wherein the flexible cladding element is disposed in a region of the side sill covered by a vehicle door of the passenger vehicle associated with the door opening when the inherently rigid outer cladding element is disposed in the cladding position;
• and wherein when the inherently rigid outer cladding element is disposed in the cladding position a gap is covered between an end of the inherently rigid outer cladding element, on which is disposed the end of the flexible cladding element, and a component of the passenger vehicle.