Abstract: A retractable shelf system for use with a motor vehicle is provided. The retractable shelf system includes a microcontroller, a rail assembly operably disposed within a door of the motor vehicle and in operable communication with the microcontroller, which is configured to control the rail assembly, and a retractable shelf including a hinge assembly that is operably coupled to the rail assembly and in operable communication with the microcontroller for moving the retractable shelf from a stowed configuration disposed within the door of the motor vehicle to an un-stowed configuration disposed outside of the door of the motor vehicle, wherein in the un-stowed configuration the retractable shelf is rotatable from a vertical configuration to a horizontal configuration.