Silverado 1500

Make
Chevrolet
Segment
Sports Car

The pickup truck wars between Detroit's Big Three automakers - Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler - are as hot as they've ever been, and each company is constantly on the lookout for the next big, standout feature that will give them an edge. Recently, those efforts have culminated in the evolution of the tailgate, with each of the Big Three holding a slightly different opinion on what direction to take.

Now, GM seems to be doubling-down on the MultiPro tailgate design first deployed on the 2020 GMC Sierra, expanding its availability to include the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck line.

In that application, the tailgate will be called "Multi-Flex", not "MultiPro", although it's essentially the same design. The flexible new tailgate offers six different configurations, allowing owners to use part of the tailgate as a load stop, or fold down a center section to provide easier access to the cargo bed, or even deploy a section of the tailgate as a full-width step, similar to the F-150's deployable bed step.

A new video from GM shows all six different configurations of the Multi-Flex tailgate in quick succession, with the message that work has "always happened" in the pickup truck bed, "but not like this."

GM's flexible, six-mode tailgate is a revolutionary design, taking things a step further than Ram did with its 60/40-split multifunction tailgate, but it could soon find itself overshadowed by the all-new 2021 Ford F-150. That truck has added side cleats and clamp pockets on both ends of the tailgate, and an optional, job site-ready tailgate worksurface adds a phone/tablet holder, pencil holders, a ruler, and a cupholder. Those features will all quickly find a home among those who work construction, and in conjunction with the available ProPower Onboard generator with a bed-mounted 110-volt outlet, they help transform the new F-150 into something of a mobile workshop.

GM will have more new info to share about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado on September 21, so stay tuned.