VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE

A vehicle body structure includes a vehicle cargo structure and a handle assembly. The vehicle cargo structure has a floor and a first side wall at least partially defining a cargo area at a rearward end of a vehicle, The handle assembly has a base and a grip handle. The base is attached to the first side wall above the floor within the cargo area. The grip handle is movable relative to the base between a stowed orientation in which the grip handle is at a location lower than an upper surface of the first side wall and a gripping orientation in which at least a portion of the grip handle extends higher that the upper surface of the first side wall. With the grip handle in the gripping orientation an individual entering the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area.