2018 proves to be a record year for DAF

DAF Trucks tells us that it has broken all its records in 2018. Thanks to a historically high market share of 16.6 per cent, DAF has grown to be Europe’s second largest brand in the heavy truck (16+ tonnes) segment. DAF adds that it is the European market leader in the important tractor-unit segment, with a market share of no less than 19.8 per cent.

The European market for trucks of 16+ tonnes amounted to almost 319,000 trucks in 2018 compared to 306,000 in 2017. “The European economy has been very strong over the past year. This resulted in a high demand for transportation with a corresponding requirement for trucks”, says Harry Wolters, President DAF Trucks.

Heavy Truck Market (16 tonnes+) leader in seven European countries
As in previous years, DAF was the market leader in the heavy segment in 2018 in the Netherlands (32 per cent), the United Kingdom (26.5 per cent), Poland (23.2 per cent) and Hungary (32.6 per cent). The Dutch truck manufacturer was also the market leader in Belgium (22.1 per cent), Bulgaria (19.9 per cent) and the Czech Republic (19.5 per cent). In Germany—Europe’s largest truck market—DAF was once again the largest import brand, with a market share of 12.3 per cent.

Stable market share in the 6–16 tonnes segment
The total European market for light trucks (6–16 tonnes) decreased slightly from 52,500 units in 2017 to just under 52,000 in 2018. DAF held a nine per cent market share in this segment. DAF is the market leader in the light trucks class in both the United Kingdom (32 per cent) and in Ireland (18.2 per cent).

Record production
To meet the high demand for its trucks, DAF produced a record number of more than 67,000 light, medium and heavy trucks in 2018, an increase of 10.1 per cent compared to the previous year. DAF estimates that the market for heavy trucks will be strong again in 2019, at a volume of between 290,000 and 320,000 units.