It’s official: DAF makes the world’s best trucks
It’s official: DAF makes the world’s best trucks
DAF’s New Generation XD and XF Electric trucks have won the 2026 International Truck of the Year award – the highest honour that can be bestowed on any truck. What does this mean for DAF in South Africa? That was one of many questions CHARLEEN CLARKE put to Mark Gavin, sales director of DAF Trucks at Babcock.
Last month, Harald Seidel, president of DAF Trucks, accepted the industry’s most prestigious accolade: the 2026 International Truck of the Year (IToY) award. The trophy was presented during a spectacular ceremony at the Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, France.
This achievement marks DAF’s third win in five years, following the New Generation XF/XG/XG+ and XD models, which took the titles in 2022 and 2023.
The jury of leading commercial vehicle journalists selected the XD and XF Electric series for their outstanding energy efficiency, smooth and powerful driveline performance and advanced technical architecture. The trucks were also recognised for their impressive driving range, modern lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology and exceptional driver comfort.
“During extensive test drives, jury members praised the XD and XF Electric for the refinement of their drivelines and the almost seamless gear changes. The modular design, with a wide choice of battery and axle configurations, offers operators remarkable flexibility,” says Florian Engel, chairperson of the IToY jury. “With the new XD and XF Electric, DAF demonstrates that a central electric motor paired with a traditional rear axle can be just as energy-efficient as an e-axle. This configuration also provides ideal weight distribution, allowing virtually all applications to be supported by a single technical platform,” he continues.
The XD and XF Electric trucks are equipped with PACCAR’s advanced EX-D1 and EX-D2 electric motors, delivering outputs from 170kW to 350kW. Their modular battery packs – ranging from 210 to 525kWh – give the 4×2 and 6×2 tractor and rigid models zero-emission ranges of more than 500km on a single charge, or over 1,000km per day with optimal charging management.
These vehicles are a global benchmark – a fact underscored by the awarding of the trophy. But what does this mean for South Africans? We turned to Gavin for answers.
What does this award mean for DAF in South Africa?
The IToY award is the highest recognition in our industry, and having the New Generation XD and XF Electric crowned the 2026 winners is incredibly significant for DAF South Africa. It reinforces that we are aligned with the very best global engineering, technology and safety standards. For our market, it means we can offer customers products that have been independently judged as world-leading in efficiency, driver comfort and innovation.
It also brings enormous confidence to operators exploring zero-emission transport solutions. South African fleets face tough operating conditions and knowing that the trucks introduced here are built on award-winning platforms gives them real assurance.
For us as a team, it’s a point of pride and motivation. It shows that DAF is not only keeping pace with global developments but is helping to define the future of transport – and we’re excited to bring that future to South Africa.
The victory is also a major engineering achievement. What does this say about DAF’s current direction in research and development?
It confirms that our R&D strategy is aligned with – and in some areas, slightly ahead of – where the industry is headed. The XD and XF Electric were recognised for efficiency, safety and driver comfort, which are precisely the pillars our engineers have focused on for the past decade.
The award also strongly endorses our decision to invest heavily in zero-emission drivelines without compromising on practicality or total cost of ownership (TCO).
DAF has been on a strong innovation streak. What differentiates its approach from competitors?
One key difference is that DAF doesn’t innovate for headlines – we innovate for operators’ real-world business cases. Our engineers work very closely with fleet customers, dealers and service partners, meaning the feedback loop between the road and the design office is extremely short. That’s why, over the last five years, our New Generation models have repeatedly won the IToY award – the products are clearly aligned with what transport operators need.
Award juries praise DAF for refinement, driver-centric design and efficiency. Which engineering philosophies underpin these strengths?
We start from the driver’s seat and work outwards. That means visibility, ergonomics, low noise levels, intuitive controls and a cab that genuinely supports long days on the road.
On the efficiency side, we combine aerodynamics, optimised drivelines, smart energy management and careful weight distribution. In the case of the XD and XF Electric, the jury highlighted exactly those points: refined yet powerful driveline behaviour, long range and advanced vehicle architecture.
How closely does DAF South Africa collaborate with global R&D teams?
The collaboration is very close and structured. We supply detailed information on operating conditions, duty cycles, fuel and power quality, roads and climate – all the factors that make South Africa unique. That feedback feeds directly into validation programmes and product updates, and we are often involved in field trials and early deployments to ensure that global innovations perform reliably in our conditions.
Continuous improvement appears to be part of DAF’s DNA. How does this culture translate into real product advancements?
At DAF, continuous improvement isn’t a slogan; it is embedded in every engineering and production process. Small refinements – a software tweak here, a cooling optimisation there, a better dash layout – are constantly incorporated, rather than waiting for a major next-generation release.
You can see this in our rapid progress: from the New Generation XF/XG/XG+ to the XD and now to the XD and XF Electric. Each step has delivered tangible gains in safety, efficiency and comfort, rather than cosmetic updates.
DAF’s newer models have won multiple awards. What is the single most impressive innovation in the current product range?
For me, it’s the modular electric platform. The ability to configure different battery packs, axle layouts and applications on a common architecture is incredibly powerful for operators. It means we can tailor zero-emission trucks to city distribution, regional haulage and even longer routes, while maintaining a familiar driving experience and a realistic business case.
How does DAF implement human-centred design?
We involve drivers from day one. Cab design is tested with professional drivers in simulators, on test tracks and in real operations, and we refine based on their feedback. Safety and comfort are engineered together: low window lines, excellent direct vision, camera systems, well-designed seating and low noise levels all contribute to a less fatiguing – and therefore safer – working environment.
Where is DAF placing its biggest R&D bets for the next decade?
Our major focus areas are zero-emissions technologies, energy efficiency and intelligent connectivity. This includes battery-electric drivelines, charging concepts, advanced driver assistance systems and connected services that help fleets improve asset productivity. We are also refining aerodynamics and lightweight construction because every kilowatt-hour and every kilogram counts in both diesel and electric operations.
How does DAF ensure global innovations translate into durability for South Africa?
Durability is essential here. Our products are validated under tough conditions: high temperatures, dust, rough roads and long distances. We work closely with local customers to monitor performance and, where necessary, adjust specifications, cooling systems, suspension and protective measures so that award-winning technologies deliver in South Africa.
What testing and quality-control processes support DAF’s reputation for reliability?
Our trucks undergo millions of kilometres of testing before reaching customers. This includes component endurance tests, full-vehicle durability cycles, climatic chamber trials and extensive field testing. We also use advanced simulations to model stresses, thermal behaviour and energy flows, while we maintain strict quality-control processes in our factories to ensure every truck matches the design intent.
Software and connectivity are increasingly important. How is DAF integrating digital technologies?
Modern DAF trucks are digital platforms as much as mechanical ones. We offer connectivity services that monitor vehicle health, optimise routing and driver performance and enable proactive maintenance planning. Software also powers driver assistance systems, energy management in electric trucks and over-the-air updates, allowing continuous improvement after delivery.
Looking ahead, what innovations excite you most?
Globally, I’m excited by the maturing of electric trucks for wider applications and the ecosystem forming around them: smart charging, depot solutions and renewable-energy integration.
For South Africa, the combination of highly efficient vehicles and data-driven fleet management offers huge potential for improving productivity, safety and driver well-being.
And finally… how did the South African team react to the big news?
The atmosphere was fantastic – there was real pride across the team. We knew we had a very strong product in the XD and XF Electric, but the competition was exceptionally tough, so you can never assume a win. The announcement has felt like recognition not only for DAF globally, but for every Babcock employee here in South Africa. It’s really great!
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