Vehicle door assembly

A method of manufacturing a door assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

• providing an outer panel made of metal, the outer panel having a rocker sill area and a beltline area presenting a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel;
• providing a reinforcement member separate from the outer panel and made as at least one piece of metal, the reinforcement member having an outer periphery, the reinforcement member including a beltline reinforcement, side portions, and a lower portion surrounding an opening;
• attaching the beltline reinforcement of the reinforcement member to the outer panel along the beltline area of the outer panel, the outer periphery of the reinforcement member extending along the outer periphery of the outer panel, and the side portions and the lower portion of the reinforcement member extending from the opening and away from the outer panel;
• covering the opening of the reinforcement member with a module and fixedly attaching the module to the reinforcement member, the module being made as a single integral piece of non-metallic material, a portion of an outer periphery of the module being surrounded by the side portions and the lower portion of the reinforcement member which extend away from the outer panel, the module including an inner beltline reinforcement disposed adjacent the beltline reinforcement of the reinforcement member, the module including a window frame providing a closed shape around a frame opening, and the module capable of supporting a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and said closed position;
• and
• disposing a window between the reinforcement member and the module.