The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) with a grab handle (6), particularly a grab handle in a passenger compartment (12). The grab handle (6) is secured to a support, such as a roof panel (14), at a pair of pivot points (16), so that the handle (6) may be rotated (3) to extend away from the surrounding surface (10) to an extended position (31) or retracted towards the surrounding surface (10) to a retracted position (11). A proximity sensor (24) senses the presence of a hand near the handle (6), and an actuator, responsive to the proximity sensor, is arranged to extend (3) automatically the handle (6) when the proximity sensor (24) senses the presence of a hand near the handle (6). The actuator may also automatically retract the handle (6) when the proximity sensor (24) does not sense the presence of a hand near the handle (6).