Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.Chevrolet is preparing to exit one of the heaviest segments of the commercial truck market. Production of the Silverado 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and 6500 HD medium-duty trucks is scheduled to end later this year as General Motors winds down its partnership with International Trucks.The move marks the conclusion of a joint venture that began in 2015 when GM partnered with Navistar, now known as International, to co-develop and manufacture medium-duty commercial trucks. The Silverado MD lineup shared its platform and production facility with the International CV Series, giving Chevrolet a presence in the Class 4 through Class 6 commercial truck space without building the trucks independently.Reports indicate production of the Chevrolet Silverado MD models will end on September 30, 2026, at International’s Springfield, Ohio, assembly plant. International’s own CV Series trucks are expected to cease production slightly earlier in September.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe decision appears tied largely to declining demand. Sales of Chevrolet’s medium-duty trucks have fallen significantly over the past year, making it increasingly difficult to justify continuing the partnership in a highly competitive commercial segment dominated by larger fleet players.Silverado MD Sales Have Dropped SharplyPhoto Courtesy: Autorepublika.Chevrolet’s medium-duty truck lineup has struggled to maintain momentum against established rivals, particularly Ford’s larger commercial offerings.During the first quarter of 2026, Chevrolet reportedly sold just 1,273 Silverado MD trucks. That represented a steep 37.4 percent decline compared to the same period a year earlier. Ford, meanwhile, moved 2,331 F-650 and F-750 trucks during the same quarter, highlighting the gap between the two brands in the medium-duty commercial market.The Silverado 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and 6500 HD were introduced for the 2019 model year after debuting at the 2018 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. The trucks were aimed primarily at commercial customers needing chassis-cab versatility for towing, utility bodies, flatbeds, and vocational applications.AdvertisementAdvertisementDespite offering competitive specifications, the Silverado MD trucks never achieved the same visibility or fleet penetration as Ford’s long-established medium-duty lineup.International’s Ohio Plant Is Also Moving OnThe end of the Silverado MD program is closely tied to major changes at International’s Springfield, Ohio, manufacturing facility.Most of the plant’s production capacity had reportedly been dedicated to Chevrolet’s medium-duty trucks, making GM’s withdrawal a major blow to operations there. International has already sold the facility to Canadian defense contractor Roshel, with the transaction taking effect earlier this year.The Springfield plant has a long history in commercial vehicle manufacturing, dating back to 1961. Over the decades, it survived multiple corporate restructurings and production cuts tied to the former International Harvester organization.Roshel’s acquisition includes both the assembly plant and an adjacent specialty truck facility, totaling roughly two million square feet across 500 acres. The purchase effectively gives the historic site a new purpose after decades of commercial truck production.The Silverado MD Offered Serious CapabilityPhoto Courtesy: Autorepublika.Although often overlooked outside fleet circles, Chevrolet’s medium-duty Silverado lineup packed substantial capability.All three models used GM’s Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8, producing 350 horsepower and 750 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent through an Allison six-speed automatic transmission, a combination widely respected in commercial-duty applications.AdvertisementAdvertisementBuyers could choose from regular cab, double cab, and crew cab configurations along with multiple wheelbase options ranging from 165 inches to 243 inches. Four-wheel drive was also available, giving the trucks additional versatility for construction, municipal, and utility fleet use.Gross vehicle weight ratings varied considerably across the lineup. The Silverado 4500 HD ranged from 14,001 to 16,500 pounds, while the 5500 HD stretched from 17,500 to 19,500 pounds. The largest 6500 HD reached as high as 23,500 pounds GVWR.GM Still Has Commercial Truck Partnerships RemainingChevrolet’s departure from the Silverado MD segment does not mean the company is abandoning medium-duty commercial trucks entirely.GM will continue selling its Chevrolet Low Cab Forward lineup, which is developed through its long-running partnership with Isuzu. Those trucks cover Class 4 through Class 6 applications and include rebadged versions of Isuzu’s N-Series and F-Series commercial vehicles.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe LCF lineup remains an important part of Chevrolet’s commercial portfolio, particularly in urban delivery and fleet applications where cab-over designs remain popular.International, meanwhile, will continue competing in the medium-duty space through its MV Series trucks, which cover the Class 6 and Class 7 segments.For Chevrolet, however, the end of the Silverado 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and 6500 HD closes a relatively short chapter in the company’s attempt to expand deeper into the heavy commercial truck market.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.