DAF XD and XF Electric: International Truck of the Year 2026
With 92 points, DAF XD and XF Electric range finished ahead of its competitors, getting critical acclaim for its modular vehicle concept, operational flexibility, and powertrain dynamics.
The 24-member Jury of the International Truck of the Year (IToY) voted DAF XD and XF Electric range of trucks for the coveted title for the year 2026. The DAF e-trucks won over the diesel-powered MAN D30 PowerLion and SANY e435 Electric in the closely contested final rounds of the battle for the award.
This is indeed the third consecutive year that an electric truck has taken the title, with Mercerdes-Benz eActros 600 winning last year and Volvo FH Electric the year before. It is also the third time for DAF to clinch the IToY trophy, which was presented to Harald Seidel, President of DAF Trucks, during the International Awards Gala Evening at the Solutrans Trade Fair held in Lyon, France late last month.
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.
The jury of 23 leading commercial vehicle journalists from across Europe awarded DAF’s XD and XF Electric truck series for their exceptional energy efficiency, refined yet powerful driveline, and advanced technical architecture. Furthermore, the e-trucks were recognized for their long driving ranges, LFP battery technology, and superior driver comfort. Florian Engel, Chairman of the IToY jury, commented:
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.
Related: DAF CF and XF: International Truck of the Year 2018
The XD and XF Electric trucks are powered by PACCAR’s advanced EX-D1 and EX-D2 e-motors, delivering outputs from 170 kW (230 hp) to 350 kW (480 hp). With modular battery packs ranging from 210 to 525 kWh, the 4×2 and 6×2 tractor and rigid vehicles offer driving ranges of over 500 kms on a single charge, and even over 1,000 kms per day thought optimal charge planning.
