Abstract: A car panel for an elevator car, a method for assembling an elevator car, and an elevator system are disclosed. The car panel of the elevator car includes a lower portion, the lower portion attached to a floor of the elevator car and an upper portion, the upper portion attached to a side panel by a hinge. The hinge allows the upper portion to displace, with respect to the lower portion, by rotating the upper portion inwardly about the hinge towards an interior space of the elevator car. Displacement of the upper portion, with respect to the lower portion, from rotating the upper portion inwardly about the hinge provides ingress to a hoistway of the elevator system.