Is the Chevy Silverado EV a unibody?
The Silverado EV is not a unibody vehicle. It uses a traditional body-on-frame design, aligned with GM’s Ultium BEV platform for a full-size pickup’s capabilities.
To understand why, it helps to compare common automotive architectures: unibody constructions are typical of most cars and many crossovers, prioritizing weight efficiency and a single integrated shell, while body-on-frame designs use a separate frame that carries structural loads—an arrangement long favored by large pickups and trucks for durability, towing, and off-road toughness. The Silverado EV, announced and sold as a full-size electric pickup, follows the latter approach while leveraging GM’s advanced electric drivetrain technology.
What unibody means in automotive design
Unibody construction integrates the vehicle’s body and chassis into one load-bearing structure. This design is common in most passenger cars and many crossovers, offering weight savings and smooth, sedan-like handling. In contrast, body-on-frame systems rely on a separate frame to carry major loads, with the body mounted on top. This arrangement is traditionally preferred for heavy-duty tasks such as towing, payload, and rugged use—areas where full-size pickups historically excel.
The Silverado EV’s construction
Below are the core architectural distinctions that indicate the Silverado EV follows a body-on-frame approach rather than a unibody design.
- The vehicle is built on GM’s Ultium BEV platform, which is a dedicated BEV architecture tailored for trucks and large SUVs.
- It employs a rigid frame (a boxed-type frame is typical for GM’s full-size trucks) that supports major loads separate from the body structure.
- The high-voltage battery is integrated underneath the chassis, between frame rails, rather than forming part of a single enclosed unibody shell.
- Drive components and suspension are mounted to the frame, reinforcing durability and towing capability characteristic of traditional pickups.
- The overall architecture supports heavy-duty use, payload, and towing demands that are hallmarks of full-size trucks, aligning with customer expectations for a Silverado.
These elements collectively indicate a body-on-frame construction tailored for electric propulsion, rather than a unibody design common to many passenger cars.
How it differs from a typical unibody vehicle
Understanding these contrasts helps clarify why the Silverado EV is not a unibody. The following points outline the main differences and their implications for performance and durability.
- Structural integration: Unibody combines load-bearing functions into the stamped body; the Silverado EV relies on a separate frame to carry the major loads.
- Durability and towing: A frame-based design is traditionally favored for higher towing capacities and heavier payloads, which align with pickup expectations.
- Repair and maintenance: Damage to a frame-on-frame truck often affects the chassis differently than a unibody vehicle, influencing repair strategies and part replacement.
- Ride and handling trade-offs: Unibody vehicles typically prioritize weight savings and refined ride, whereas frame-based trucks optimize rigidity and load management for work-related tasks.
In short, the Silverado EV’s architecture reflects a purpose-built full-size truck philosophy, leveraging electric propulsion while preserving the structural approach that supports durability and capability.
GM's official framing and industry context
GM describes the Silverado EV as part of its Ultium Platform and BEV3 architecture, a modular BEV strategy designed for large trucks and SUVs. While GM emphasizes the truck’s electric powertrain, it continues to highlight a frame-based, purpose-built chassis approach rather than a unibody shell—consistent with the lineage of Chevrolet’s full-size pickups and their towing/payload expectations.
Industry observers note that even as some electric vehicles move toward unibody designs, full-size pickups on the Ultium BEV platform retain the traditional BOF underpinnings to meet customers’ durability and capability needs. The Silverado EV embodies that trajectory: electric propulsion paired with a body-on-frame chassis optimized for work, rather than a car-style unibody shell.
Summary
The Chevy Silverado EV is not a unibody vehicle. It employs a traditional body-on-frame construction within GM’s Ultium BEV platform, a pairing that preserves the durability, towing capacity, and payload performance expected of a full-size pickup, while delivering the advantages of electric propulsion. For buyers prioritizing work-ready capability, the Silverado EV aligns with the truck-centric engineering approach that has defined Chevrolet’s full-size lineup for decades.
Is the Silverado EV a unibody?
The Silverado EV's unibody design makes the truck more versatile and practical whether you're hauling passengers or cargo. The traditional body-on-frame design limits the truck bed and how you can use the cabin because there's only so much room in one or the other.
Does the Silverado EV have a frame?
Exterior and Interior. Unlike the standard body-on-frame Silverado, this electric version will feature a unibody frame. Its most useful feature is the multi-flex tailgate function that has an integrated bed. With the open portal between the cabin and cargo area, the storage length is 11 feet.
What is the difference between the 2026 and 2025 Silverado EV?
A New Trim for a New Model Year
More ground clearance, trim-specific wheels and tires, a red tow hook, and a redesigned body accompany a dedicated Terrain mode. The 2025 Silverado EV does not offer a Trail Boss trim, leaving it to offer less than the 2026 Silverado EV near Big Rapids.
Is the GMC Sierra EV body-on-frame?
The Sierra EV is a body-on-frame pickup truck with standard four-wheel drive.
