DAF XD and XF Electric named International Truck of the Year 2026

The new DAF XD and XF Electric have been voted International Truck of the Year 2026 by the 24-member jury. It is the third time DAF has won the title with its New Generation range, following the success of the XF, XG and XG+ in 2022 and the XD in 2023, bringing the award once again to Eindhoven.

The trophy was presented to Harald Seidel, president of DAF Trucks, during the International Awards Gala Evening at the Solutrans trade fair in Lyon, France, attended by more than 1,300 guests.

With 92 points, the Dutch manufacturer’s heavy-duty electric series finished ahead of its competitors in the final count. The diesel-powered MAN D30 PowerLion provided strong competition, while the fully electric SANY e435 marked the first time a Chinese truck has reached the shortlist for Europe’s most prestigious commercial vehicle award.

In line with the rules of the International Truck of the Year (IToY), the title is awarded annually to the vehicle introduced in the previous 12 months that has made the greatest contribution to road transport efficiency. The assessment covers a range of criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, energy efficiency, environmental performance and total cost of ownership.

This is the third consecutive year that an electric truck has taken the title. Of the five vehicles shortlisted for 2026, three were battery-electric models, highlighting that the energy transition remains at the forefront of the truck industry, even as the internal combustion engine continues to evolve.

During extensive test drives, jury members praised the XD and XF Electric for the perfection of their drivelines and the almost imperceptible gear changes. Their range also benefits from the 9% aerodynamic improvement achieved across DAF’s latest generation. The modular vehicle concept, offering a wide choice of battery and axle configurations, was also commended for providing operators with exceptional flexibility.

Florian Engel, chairman of the International Truck of the Year jury, summarised:

“With the new XD and XF Electric, DAF Trucks demonstrates that the combination of a central electric motor and a traditional rear axle can be just as energy-efficient as a driveline with an e-axle. Moreover, this DAF configuration provides perfect weight distribution, enabling virtually all use cases to be covered by a single technical platform.”

The 2026 Nominees 

(in alphabetical order)

DAF XD / XF

MAN D30 PowerLion

MAN eTGS

SANY e435

SCANIA Super 11