2026 Truck of the Year Goes to DAF

DAF’s New Generation XD and XF Electric trucks have secured the 2026 International Truck of the Year (IToY) title — the highest global honour in the trucking industry. To understand what this achievement means for the South African market, Mark Gavin, Sales Director for DAF Trucks at Babcock, shared his insights.

The award, presented to DAF President Harald Seidel at Solutrans in Lyon, marks DAF’s third IToY win in five years, reinforcing the brand’s leadership in engineering excellence, innovation and future-focused transport technology.

The IToY jury recognised the XD and XF Electric for their outstanding energy efficiency, smooth and powerful electric driveline performance, modular battery design, advanced LFP battery technology and exceptional driver comfort. With PACCAR’s EX-D1 and EX-D2 electric motors delivering up to 350 kW, and battery configurations offering ranges of more than 500 km on a single charge, the trucks set a new benchmark in zero-emission capability.
 

Gavin says the recognition is deeply meaningful for South Africa as part of the global DAF network. “The International Truck of the Year award is the highest recognition in our industry. Having the New Generation XD and XF Electric crowned the 2026 winners reinforces that DAF South Africa is aligned with the world’s leading engineering, technology and safety standards,” he explains.

For Babcock, the award strengthens confidence in the products introduced locally and highlights the depth of global support behind the brand. “This achievement reflects the innovation driving DAF globally - and it’s something every member of the Babcock team can be proud of. We’re committed to ensuring that our customers here benefit from the same world-class platforms that are shaping the future of transport internationally,” Gavin adds.

As the official dealer for DAF in southern Africa, Babcock continues to deliver high-performance fleet solutions supported by strong aftersales service, technical expertise and a long-term commitment to customer success. The 2026 IToY award is another milestone underscoring the value and future-readiness of the DAF product range available through Babcock.