DAF’S XD SERIES WINS THE 2023 INTERNATIONAL TRUCK OF THE YEAR AWARD

DAF’s XD series has been elected International Truck of the Year 2023 by a jury of 24 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists representing 24 major trucking magazines throughout Europe.

Harald Seidel, President of DAF Trucks, was presented with the prestigious award during the IAA Transportation's press day in Hanover, Germany.

With a winning score of 134 votes, the Dutch truck manufacturer’s distribution series fought off tough challenges from Scania’s new Super long-haul driveline range and Mercedes-Benz’s heavy-duty Actros, equipped with the 3rd-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 along congested urban roads.

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

Summing up the jury vote, International Truck of the Year Chairman Gianenrico Griffini commented: “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”.