DAF XF, XG and XG⁺ awarded International Truck of the Year
DAF’s new generation of trucks for long distance haulage has been crowned ‘International Truck of the Year 2022’.
“The XF, XG and XG⁺ set a new industry benchmark in efficiency, safety and driver comfort”, the jury stated after an extensive series of tests.
The award was handed over at the Solutrans truck & transport exhibition in Lyon, France. DAF was also honoured the ‘2022 Truck Innovation Award’ for its XF Innovation Truck with a hydrogen combustion engine.
Based on the International Truck of the Year (IToY) rules, the annual award is presented to the truck which was introduced in the past year and which has made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency.
This judgment relies on a comprehensive range of criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint’ and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
“DAF is the first truck manufacturer to introduce a completely new generation of trucks that has been developed with the new European regulations for truck masses and dimensions in mind”, said Gianenrico Griffini, chairman of the ‘International Truck of the Year’ jury.
“The result is a series of highly attractive and very aerodynamic trucks which features class-leading efficiency, safety and driver comfort. The new XF, XG and XG⁺ offer excellent direct visibility provided by a large, curved windscreen, side windows with low beltlines and the kerb-view window.
“These features – along with the digital vision system that replaces the traditional side view mirrors and the new corner view camera – offer all-around view, protecting vulnerable road users.”
The award was presented to Harry Wolters, president of DAF Trucks, who dedicated the recognition to all of the over 12,000 DAF employees world-wide.
“This unique achievement is a true team effort! The New Generation XF, XG and XG⁺ represents the largest innovation project in the over 90-year history of our company,” Wolters said.
Meanwhile, DAF’s XF H2 Innovation Truck was honoured with the ‘Truck Innovation Award 2022’.
Ron Borsboom, DAF executive director product development said: “Hydrogen technology may become a very interesting option for the future, next to battery electric solutions which we already offer today and hybrid trucks which we have under development.
“Being honoured with the Truck Innovation Award 2022 also demonstrates that there is still a promising future for the internal combustion engine (ICE) for which new generations of carbon neutral fuels are on the horizon.”