US Patent 10300958 Vehicle body structure

An automotive vehicle body structure includes a rear panel arranged in a vehicle width direction in a vehicle body rear portion, a rear cross member connected to a rear surface of the rear panel, extending along the vehicle width direction, and defining a closed cross section between the rear cross member and the rear panel, and a rear bumper beam connected to a rear section of the rear cross member and extending along the vehicle width direction. The rear cross member includes an extending portion extending along the rear panel outward in the vehicle width direction from an outer end of the rear bumper beam in the vehicle width direction.