DAF Bets Big on South Africa

While South Africa’s heavy and extra-heavy commercial vehicle market has faced headwinds, DAF Trucks - distributed locally by Babcock Africa - is taking a confident, long-term view.

A recent feature by FOCUS on Transport & Logistics highlights DAF’s strong commitment to the region through a mix of localisation, technology integration and service excellence. Despite economic pressures, the brand is gaining ground with operators who value uptime, reliability and tailored fleet solutions.

Babcock’s support network continues to set DAF apart, ensuring high parts availability, trained technicians and mobile service units that keep trucks on the road. DAF’s in-house telematics platform, Executrax, now standard on all DAF trucks in Southern Africa, provides advanced fleet intelligence - including real-time tracking, driver behaviour insights and remote diagnostics - specifically tuned to local operating conditions.

Adding to that momentum, DAF has announced plans to establish a completely knocked-down (CKD) assembly plant in South Africa by 2026. The move underscores DAF’s and Babcock’s shared vision for local value creation, skills development and enhanced support for customers across transport, construction and mining.

Customer behaviour is also shifting toward leasing, rental and flexible finance solutions - a trend DAF and Babcock are meeting with adaptable ownership models and end-to-end support focused on total cost of ownership.

Read the original article in FOCUS on Transport & Logistics