A vehicle front-end assembly includes a vehicle frame and a skid plate. The vehicle frame has a first front side member and a second front side member. Each of the first and second front side members has a corresponding front-end portion with a downward facing surface. The skid plate has a main section, a first attachment flange extending from a first lateral side of the main section and a second attachment flange extending from a second lateral side of the main section. The first attachment flange is attached to the downward facing surface of the first front side member. The second attachment flange is attached to the downward facing surface of the second front side member such that the main section covers a forward area of an underside of the vehicle.