HANDLELESS DOOR FOR VEHICLE

A system for operating a handleless door of an automobile having an outer surface includes a remotely-controlled door latch, a sensor disposed at at least one of: disposed behind a window seal; assembled on the window seal; and overmolded in the window seal, and configured to sense an input from a user to open the door, the window seal being configured to transmit an input force to the sensor, and an antenna configured to receive a radio signal from a key fob in vicinity of the antenna. The system also includes a passive entry passive start (PEPS) system coupled to the antenna to authenticate the key fob as being associated with the automobile and a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicating the user provided input to open the door, receive an authentication signal from the PEPS system to authenticate the key fob, and cause the remotely-controlled door latch to release based on receiving the signal from the sensor and the authentication signal from PEPS system.