Dutch truck maker DAF trucks has had a successful outing at the International Truck of the Year (IToY) award in Europe, winning in the Truck of the Year 2022 and Truck Innovation Award 2022 categories at the prestigious European event for trucks introduced into the European and international markets in the previous 12 months.

While DAF’s New Generation XF, XG, and XG+ were elected International Truck of the Year 2022, its XF Hydrogen - a prototype of a hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty truck with an internal combustion engine - won the 2022 Truck Innovation Award.

The IToY awards are given annually by a jury of 24 commercial vehicle journalists, representing 24 major trucking magazines from throughout Europe. The Truck of the Year award is presented to the truck introduced into the market in the previous 12 months, which has “made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency”, according to the jury. The judgement relies on several criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint', and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The Truck Innovation Award acknowledges the “enormous technological changes and energy transition taking place within the automotive sector”.

The awards were handed over to Harry Wolters, president of DAF Trucks, during the press day of the Solutrans Commercial Vehicle and Bodybuilder Show in Lyon, France.

For the Truck of the Year 2022 awards DAF’s winning score was 150 votes, while for the Truck Innovation Award 2022, it garnered a score o 92 votes. In the process, the Dutch long-haul heavy-duty truck range fought off challenges from other major truck makers, such as Iveco and Mercedes-Benz.

DAF trucks said it a statement that during recent extended test drives in Spain and central Europe, the IToY jury members appreciated the excellent visibility provided by a large, curved windscreen, side windows with low beltlines and the kerb-view window. These features - along with the digital vision system that replaces the traditional rear mirrors and the new corner view camera - offer excellent all-around visibility, protecting vulnerable road users.

The IToY journalists also praised the performance of the new highly efficient powertrains, based on the Paccar MX-11 and MX-13 engines, coupled with TraXon automated gearbox, and the advanced features of predictive cruise control with extended Eco-roll functionalities.

Summing up the jury vote, IToY chairman Gianenrico Griffini said: “With the introduction of the New Generation, DAF has delivered a high-tech heavy-duty truck range that sets a new benchmark in the truck industry. In addition, it is future-oriented, as it also represents a complete platform for new generations of alternative drivelines.”