Abstract: A door trim panel assembly includes a door trim panel and an armrest supported by the door trim panel. The armrest includes a top portion and a bottom portion each extending from the door trim panel, and a middle portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion. The bottom portion has a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the top portion and greater than a wall thickness of the middle portion. The wall thickness of the top portion is less than the wall thickness of the middle portion.

Abstract: A door trim panel includes a panel and an armrest supported by the panel. The armrest includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion and the bottom portion each extend from the panel. The armrest includes a middle portion that extends from the top portion to the bottom portion. The bottom portion is thicker than both the top portion and the middle portion, and the middle portion is thicker than the top portion. The relative thicknesses of the top portion, the bottom portion, and the middle portion facilitate energy absorption and control the deformation mechanism during an impact. A door inner is disposed opposite the door trim panel, and a foam block is disposed between the door trim panel and the door inner. The foam block absorbs the residue of energy. The door trim panel includes shelves that extend from the door trim panel and that support part of the armrest to withstand a vertical load.