World’s best commercial vehicles honoured in Lyon

On with the show

While the awards banquet was undeniably the highlight of Solutrans, the exhibition itself was also very good indeed – the halls were packed with fascinating exhibits and there appeared to be more visitors than ever before.

A number of world premieres took place during the exhibition and, more significantly, important conversations were held. This was extremely necessary, as the commercial vehicle sector is finding itself in a period of both opportunity and unease – electrification is accelerating, yet infrastructure is lagging; efficiency demands are rising, yet supply chains remain fragile; regulatory pressure is mounting, yet customer expectations are hardening.

But, of course, there was also a lot to see. Here are just some of the highlights:

World premiere: Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric

Renault chose Solutrans as the stage to unveil the production version of the Trafic E-Tech Electric, ahead of its arrival on European roads in late 2026. As the first model in a new generation of all-electric vans, it was always going to draw attention, yet its engineering decisions elevated it from routine model launch to something more consequential.

Instead of adapting an existing diesel platform, Renault built the vehicle around a fully-electric skateboard architecture. This decision allows for a compact external footprint paired with maximum internal volume. The rear-mounted motor and shortened overhang help create an agile vehicle capable of manoeuvring easily through congested cities while still offering the practicality expected of a Trafic.

Under the skin lies an 800-V electrical system, enabling rapid charging that takes the battery from 15 to 80% in roughly 20 minutes. The van arrives with two battery choices, one offering a WLTP range of up to 450km using nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry; the other providing a still respectable 350km with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack containing no rare metals. The motor generates 150kW and 345Nm of torque, giving the van a confident blend of performance and efficiency.

Perhaps more telling than the powertrain is the extent of software integration. Built on Ampere’s Software Defined Vehicle architecture, the Trafic E-Tech is designed to evolve through over-the-air updates. Its vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities suggest a future in which commercial vehicles act as mobile energy assets, not merely logistics tools. The model will be produced in France at Sandouville, reinforcing Renault’s commitment to local manufacturing for its electric LCV portfolio.

Micro-mobility that punches above its weight

Although the halls were filled with giant tractors, 44-tonne combinations and long-haul electric prototypes, two unusually small machines captured a surprising amount of attention on the Renault stand.

The first was the latest Kleuster cargo e-bike, developed in partnership with Renault Trucks. Designed for urban logistics, the bike’s compact frame conceals engineering far more robust than its size suggests. It uses a chainless transmission system that reduces maintenance and accepts swappable batteries to extend operating hours. Front and rear suspension help it cope with the increasingly rough surfaces of modern cities, while its tight turning radius makes it highly manoeuvrable in narrow streets.

The second attention-grabber was the Mobilize Duo, Renault Group’s compact electric city car. Quirky in appearance yet surprisingly sensible in purpose, the Duo offers a 160-km range and a top speed of 80km/h, delivering short-distance practicality in a footprint barely larger than a motorcycle space. With a price hovering around 10,000 euros, it demonstrated that not all urban mobility challenges require large batteries or large vehicles.

Reinventing the used truck: The T 01 Racing

Across the stand, Renault Trucks also showcased the T 01 Racing, a bold reinterpretation of what a refurbished truck can be. Borrowing visual cues from the world of motorsport, the revamped model features sharp aerodynamic lines, a mixture of matte and gloss finishes and striking LED headlamps. The company describes it as part of a new generation of used trucks designed not simply to extend the life of old units, but to elevate them.

Inside the cab, drivers benefit from improved ergonomics, increased storage and an optimised rest area. A three-way adjustable steering column supports long-distance comfort, while refined aerodynamics, updated cruise-control logic and Class-A tyres promise fuel-efficiency improvements of up to 3%. Renault Trucks wants the T 01 Racing to demonstrate that refurbished vehicles can contribute meaningfully to sustainability without compromising pride of ownership.

Michelin: Between lunar exploration and earthly efficiency

Among the tyre manufacturers, Michelin delivered perhaps the single most visually dramatic exhibit of Solutrans 2025. Positioned proudly at the centre of its stand was the MiLAW – an airless wheel developed for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions. The idea of a tyre company producing a wheel designed to withstand temperatures ranging from -240 to +100˚C felt like science fiction made real.

The MiLAW has been engineered to operate on lunar regolith, a surface that is simultaneously abrasive, unstable and electrically charged. Without the option of air pressure to absorb impacts, Michelin turned to a combination of advanced materials, 3D printing and two decades of research into non-pneumatic tyre structures. The result is a wheel capable of resisting extreme thermal cycles, harsh radiation and the sharp edges of moon dust – all while supporting a rover in a zero-atmosphere environment.

What resonated with visitors was Michelin’s argument that space exploration enables innovation that eventually trickles back to everyday transport: technologies developed for interplanetary travel could improve the durability, efficiency and environmental profile of tyres used on Earth. In that sense, the MiLAW was both a moon tool and a statement of intent.

Broad mobility ecosystem for fleets

Away from the lunar spectacle, Michelin presented a comprehensive 360˚ offering for fleet operators. The company confirmed its goal of refreshing 80% of its truck tyre range by 2028, in line with its broader sustainability ambitions. Its commitment to 100% renewable or recycled materials in its tyres by 2050, with an interim milestone of 40% by 2030, formed a central narrative throughout the stand.

Digitalisation was another major theme. Michelin’s MyConnectedFleet platform has now been enhanced with a proprietary AI assistant capable of interpreting vast volumes of data and converting them into actionable insights. Operators can ask natural-language questions and receive detailed reports instantly, with the company emphasising that no customer data leaves the platform.

Truckfly by Michelin, the widely-used app that helps drivers locate essential services, was also updated to include a dedicated GPS for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Designed specifically for truck routing, it aims to reduce navigation errors and enhance safety.