This full-size cutaway arrived with the all-new Express van family in the 1996 model year, when GM replaced the long-running G-series van with a modern, body-on-frame commercial design. The cutaway variant was created for professional builders who needed a front cab and incomplete rear body so they could install bus, shuttle, ambulance, delivery, and specialty-service bodies. It inherited the Express line’s truck-like structure and straightforward mechanical layout, which made it a strong foundation for upfitters and fleet operators.
Compared with the standard cargo and passenger versions, the cutaway focused less on retail appeal and more on versatility, durability, and packaging flexibility. That made it especially important in commercial and public-service use, where the completed vehicle could be tailored to a wide range of roles. Over the years, it remained part of the broader Express lineup as the vans evolved through minor updates and a major 2003 refresh, while the underlying purpose stayed the same: provide a dependable starting point for custom-built work vehicles.
The nameplate has had a long, uninterrupted run and remains in production today. Its staying power comes from the same formula that has kept many fleet buyers loyal to it for decades: a simple, robust chassis, broad upfitter support, and a design that is built around body builders rather than private buyers.