DAF XF XG and XG⁺ Trucks win International Truck of the Year Award 2022 Daf truck if the year 2022

DAF Truck’s New Generation XF, XG, and XG+ trucks have won the International Truck of the Year 2022. The award is given to trucks introduced in the past year and making the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency.

The esteemed award was presented to Harry Wolters, President of DAF Trucks, during a special Gala Dinner at the Solutrans 2021, the Commercial Vehicle and Bodybuilder Show in Lyon, France.

The International Truck of the Year (IToY) consists of a jury of 24 commercial vehicle editors and expert journalists, representing 24 major road transport magazines from throughout Europe.

In deciding the winner, the IToY jury looks at an extensive range of criteria, including safety, technological innovation, comfort, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint’, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Industry-first

“DAF is the first truck manufacturer to introduce a completely new generation of trucks that have 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 an all-around view, protecting vulnerable road users”.

The IToY journalists also praised the performance of the new highly efficient powertrains, based on the PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines, coupled with the ZF TraXon automated gearbox, and the advanced features of predictive cruise control with extended Eco-roll functionalities.

DAF Trucks Milestone

“This unique achievement is a true team effort! The New Generation XF, XG, and XG⁺ represent the largest innovation project in the over 90-year history of our company. It is the result of thoroughly listening to our customers and their drivers, having a clear vision about the future of durable and sustainable transport solutions, and always going the extra mile to deliver the best possible transport solutions.

Indeed, we are the first truck manufacturer that fully utilises the new European regulations regarding truck masses and dimensions to deliver unique benefits to our customers,” said Harry Wolters.

Read also: Proud Trucker Moment As Driver Returns Lost Wallet And R6,000 Cash

Wolters dedicated the International Truck of the Year Award 2022 to all of the over 12,000 DAF employees worldwide.

It is good to be the first – it is even better to be unique.”

Summing up the jury vote, IToY jury chairman Gianenrico Griffini said: “With the introduction of its new generation trucks, DAF has delivered a high-tech, heavy-duty vehicle range that sets a new benchmark in the industry. In addition, it is future-oriented, as it also represents a complete and very energy-efficient platform for new generations of alternative energy carriers and drivelines.”

Truck Innovation Award 2022

A great example is the new XF with hydrogen internal combustion engine technology which DAF has under development and which impressed the International Truck of the Year jury during a demonstration in October. As a result, the DAF XF H₂ Innovation Truck was honoured with the ‘Truck Innovation Award 2022’.

“This specific award underlines our philosophy that we need to explore the full suite of technologies on the road of decarbonisation of transport and mobility in the next decade”, commented Ron Borsboom, DAF executive director of product development.

“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. It is important to understand that bringing an end to the use of fossil fuels should by no means automatically result in a ban on internal combustion engines, especially in the heavy-duty long haul transport segment,” he said.

“H2-ICE means that in many areas use can be made of an existing distribution network of fuel stations. And let’s put more value in the fact that we in Europe have extensive knowledge and a manufacturing footprint in this technology,” Borsboom added.

About the International Truck of the Year

The International Truck of the Year award was initially launched in 1977 by the British journalist and editor of Truck magazine Pat Kennett. Today, the IToY jury consists of 24 members from leading commercial vehicle magazines throughout Europe.

IToY has, in the last few years, extended its sphere of influence by appointing associate members in the growing truck markets of China, India, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Iran, and New Zealand. Altogether, the combined truck-operator readership of the 24 IToY full jury members’ magazines, as well as those of its eight associate members exceeds one million.

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