The new generation of DAF long-haul trucks won the “International Truck of the Year 2022” nomination. “XF, XG and XG⁺ set a new industry standard for efficiency, safety and driver comfort,” commented the jury after an extensive series of tests. The prestigious award ceremony took place in Lyon (France) at the Solutrans truck and transport exhibition. DAF was also recognized in the 2022 Truck Innovation Award nomination for the innovative XF model with a hydrogen internal combustion engine.
According to the rules of the “International Truck of the Year” award, the award is given annually to the vehicle released in the previous year, which made the greatest contribution to improving the efficiency of road transport. The decision is made based on an assessment of a comprehensive range of criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, handling, fuel economy, environmental impact and total cost of ownership (“total cost of ownership” – TCO).
The first in the industry
“The DAF company was the first among manufacturers to present a completely new generation of trucks, developed taking into account the new European requirements for weight and overall dimensions,” says Gianenrico Griffini, chairman of the “International Truck of the Year” jury. “The result is a series of very impressive trucks with excellent aerodynamics, demonstrating first-class efficiency, safety and comfort for the driver. The new XF, XG and XG⁺ provide excellent visibility thanks to a large curved windscreen, a low side glass line and a special viewing window for the curb area. These features, combined with a digital vision system that has replaced traditional rear-view mirrors, and a new corner camera ensure full control of the area around the truck and the protection of vulnerable road users.”
A real team effort
The prestigious International Truck of the Year 2022 award was presented to Harry Walters, President of DAF Trucks, who dedicated the win to all 12,000 DAF employees worldwide. “This unique achievement was the result of true teamwork! The new generation of XF, XG and XG⁺ represents the most innovative project in the entire more than 90-year history of our company. It embodied the various wishes and requirements of truck owners and drivers and our clear vision of the future of reliable and environmentally friendly transport, and became another breakthrough in the relentless struggle to create better solutions for transport. We are the first and only among truck manufacturers cars managed to realize the potential of the new European requirements for weight and overall dimensions, creating a unique offer for customers. It’s good to be the first – but it’s better to be unique.”
The chairman of the International Truck of the Year 2022 jury, Gianenrico Griffini, summed up the voting: “The new generation of DAF represents a series of high-tech heavy-duty tractors that set a new industry standard. In addition, these trucks are future-proofed and are a ready-made energy-efficient platform for new generations of alternative fuels and powertrains.”
Truck Innovation Award 2022
A prime example is the new XF with hydrogen internal combustion engine technology, which is currently under development at DAF and made a big impression during a demonstration in October at the International Truck of the Year jury. As a result, the innovative DAF XF H2 truck was awarded the Truck Innovation Award 2022.
“This special award underscores our philosophy of exploring the full range of technologies towards decarbonising the transport industry in the next decade,” comments Ron Borsboom, DAF’s Executive Director of Development. — Hydrogen technology is very promising, along with the battery electric drive solutions we already offer to customers and the hybrid trucks that are currently under development. The prestigious Truck Innovation Award 2022 also showcases future opportunities for internal combustion engines with new generations of carbon-neutral fuels on the horizon. It is important to understand that ending the use of fossil fuels in no way means an automatic ban on internal combustion engines, especially in the long-haul segment.”
Ron Borsboom adds: “The H2-ICE will enable the use of existing gas station networks in many areas. It should also not be forgotten that Europe has accumulated a huge amount of knowledge and practical experience in the application of this technology.”
The International Truck of the Year jury consists of 24 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists representing the largest international media.
