The present invention relates to the operation of sliding doors. The invention provides a mechanism comprising two sub-mechanisms for opening and closing a sliding vehicle door of the type commonly found in vans, buses and commercial vehicles.

The invention provide a mechanism for electrically opening and closing a sliding door on the side of a vehicle, the mechanism comprising a first and a second sub-mechanism, each of the sub-mechanisms being driven by its own electric motor, the first sub-mechanism being arranged to move the door in a direction parallel to the direction of vehicle motion, and the second sub-mechanism being arranged to move the door in a direction substationaly perpendicular to the direction of vehicle motion for latching and unlatching of the door.