An Automatic Lift Gate Opener was designed and built to accomplish several items for this automaker's operation of inserting a prop rod under the lift gate. The prop rod is installed to hold the lift gate up during automated and manual sealer and painting operations. This lift gate opener had to be fully automatic so that the lift gate is ready for prop rod insertion by the operator within six seconds of entering the work station. The opener also has to be flexible enough to work on the two current models (two very different body styles) and future models too. This is accomplished by designing the machine to have three fixed axes controlled with servomotors. With this configuration, the machine is accurate and repeatable to 1mm and can run through its cycle in less than eight seconds. Adding new models is just a simple program addition/revision which can be done through the HMI. As well as being flexible, the lift gate opener offers ergonomic value as it eliminates the repetitive overhead lifting required to insert the prop rod.