Electronically-controlled vehicle door system

A tailgate system for a vehicle having a vehicle body with a rear body aperture, said tailgate system comprising:

• a tailgate panel operable between a closed position substantially closing said rear body aperture and an open position substantially clearing said rear body aperture, said tailgate panel including a wire harness aperture extending through an exterior side of said tailgate panel;
• a light bar assembly having a bar portion fixed to said tailgate panel, said bar portion including a handle aperture with a first surface, said first surface facilitating manual manipulation of said tailgate panel from said closed position into said open position, a switch coupled to said bar portion and to extending beyond said first surface into said handle aperture such that said switch is actuated when said first surface is used to manually manipulate said tailgate panel, said switch producing a switch signal when actuated, a wire harness coupled to said switch and extending through said hole in said tailgate panel, said wire harness adapted for transmitting said switch signal to a control module, and a sealing grommet coupled to said wire harness and substantially sealing said wire harness hole in said tailgate panel;
• a latch mechanism coupled to said tailgate panel, said latch mechanism operable in a latched condition adapted for engaging a body member carried by said vehicle body to latch said tailgate panel in said closed position, said latch mechanism operable in an unlatched condition permitting said tailgate panel to be moved between said open and closed positions;
• wherein said switch signal is operable for causing said latch mechanism to be positioned in said unlatched condition.