DAF has achieved back-to-back wins in the International Truck of Year award.

The new DAF XD series was revealed as the 2023 International Truck of the Year  during the IAA Transportation press day in Hanover, Germany.

The success follows the 2022 win by DAF’s new generation heavy-duty XF and XG models. The award is decided by a jury of 24 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists representing 24 major trucking magazines throughout Europe.

With a winning score of 134 votes, the Dutch truck manufacturer’s new distribution segment contender fought off tough challenges from Scania’s new Super long-haul driveline range and Mercedes-Benz’s heavy-duty Actros, equipped with the third generation OM 471 engine.

Based on the International Truck of the Year (IToY) rules, the annual award goes to the truck introduced into the market in the previous 12 months, making the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency. This judgment relies on several critical criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint,’ and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

With the same DNA as the new generation heavy-duty XF, XG, and XG+ models, DAF’s XD has taken full advantage of the EU’s new masses and dimensions regulations.

The result is a truck range that dramatically improves direct visibility (a key factor for distribution vehicles), internal cab space, aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, active and passive safety, and driver comfort.

During recently test drives in the Netherlands, the IToY journalists appreciated the driving position and the all-round enhanced visibility provided by a large, curved windscreen, side windows with low beltlines, and the kerb-view window.

These features - along with the optional digital vision system that replaces the traditional rear view mirrors and the corner view mirror – improve the safety of vulnerable road users on congested urban roads.

The IToY jury also praised the performance of the new powertrain, which is based on the inline-six cylinder Paccar MX-11 engine, coupled with the ZF TraXon automated gearbox with advanced predictive features.

“With the introduction of the new XD series, DAF has delivered a state-of-the-art distribution truck family that sets a new benchmark in the automotive industry. Moreover, the new XD is also a suitable platform for the coming generation of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), to be introduced at the IAA Transportation,” says IToY Chairman Gianenrico Griffini.

New Zealand DAF distributor Southpac Trucks says the new generation XD range isn’t expected to be available in the Kiwi market until 2026.

The other major award included in the IToY programme is the 2023 Truck Innovation Award won by the Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ eActros LongHaul – a concept prototype for electric heavy-duty long-distance transport.

With a winning score of 112 votes, Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ battery-electric truck (BEV) fought off the competition from ZF eTrailer, the full-electric Volta Trucks Zero range, and Faun Enginius fuel-cell powered vehicles for municipal missions.

According to IToY rules, a Truck Innovation Award nominee must be an advanced-technology vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5-tonnes fitted with an alternative driveline or fuel system. Otherwise, it must feature specific high-tech solutions concerning connectivity (semi- or fully autonomous driving systems), platooning capability, or advanced support services such as remote diagnostics.