not sure about all small trucks. but weld in body frame may be tought too. Aerostars for example are tought enought and they may haul about 1500 kg... rear axe and suspention fails, but body is ok. in USSR unibody trucks were started in 60-s and early trucks had corrozion related problems solved later...



In EU many small truck are unibody
Ford build too


So seems to me this is another step to making global product. One small truck for all markets...