60 years of DAF truck production

In 1959, DAF was one of the very first producers to apply a turbo compressor to truck diesel engines. In 1973 DAF became the first truck manufacturer in the world to use intercooling for higher power and torque with good fuel consumption. With this technology, the Eindhoven truck producer was ten year ahead of competition. Thanks to its advanced engine technology, DAF has always led in the field of exhaust-gas emission requirements too. And hence in 2006 the company became one of the first truck producers to offer all of its models with Euro 5 emission levels, which are legally required as from October 2009. Furthermore, since 2008 DAF also offers all of its trucks with diesel engines that comply with the even stricter EEV standard, which until recently was thought to be achievable only with gas engines.

‘Mother of international road transport’
In the mid-fifties, international transport started and Dutch hauliers in particular made themselves the freight carriers of Europe. Consequently, in 1957, DAF introduced a new series of heavy truck chassis, the DO series, which became available with a sleeper cab. Uniquely DAF recognised the importance of maximum driver comfort and this was underlined when - in 1962 - the company unveiled at the RAI in Amsterdam the revolutionary 2600, which was developed especially for international transport. It distinguished itself by unsurpassed interior space, a large glass area and a spacious sleeper cab that – in those days – was unprecedented.

Since, DAF has always been leading in the area of driver comfort. In 1985, the company introduced the so-called ‘Space Cab’ for its top models – versions with a raised roof giving even more room in which the driver could work, live and sleep. In 1994, DAF presented the ‘Super Space Cab’ surpassing all norms in driver comfort and interior space. The ‘Super Space Cab’ of the current top model, XF105, is one of the most spacious cabs on the market today.

The XF105 was voted ‘International Truck of the Year 2007’ and it was for DAF the third time in ten years that the company was awarded this most prestigious award in the truck industry. Following the 95XF, which was ‘International Truck of the Year 1998’, DAF’s popular LF series for the distribution sector received the 2002 award.

Keys to success
At the end of the Eighties around 18,000 trucks were produced in Eindhoven each year and at the end of the Nineties this had become about 25,000. In the first few years of the new Millennium the production in Eindhoven rose to almost 31,000 trucks in 2004. The company piled up record on record. In 2008, almost 40,000 medium and heavy duty trucks were produced in Eindhoven. In addition, over 12,000 trucks from the LF series and over 12,700 trucks from the CF and XF105 series were assembled at Leyland Trucks in the UK, leading to a total production of almost 65,000 units.

The objective to develop and produce transport solutions of the highest quality has grown to become the trademark of DAF. It is one of the important keys to the success of the company. New product developments are always driven by the fact that they need to offer added value to customers and drivers. By constantly listening to customers and drivers, DAF has not only developed modern, efficient trucks for the lowest operational costs, the highest possible transport efficiency and optimal driver’s comfort, but also a broad package of services behind the product.

DAF Trucks N.V. – a subsidiary of the American PACCAR Inc, one of the largest producers of heavy duty trucks in the world – is a leading manufacturer of light, medium and heavyduty trucks with a market share in Europe) of more than 14% in the above 15 tonne segment. Last year the company delivered a total of almost 65,000 trucks to markets inside and outside Europe. In addition, DAF is leading in the area of services behind the product: MultiSupport repair and maintenance contracts, financial services of PACCAR Financial and a first class parts supply through PACCAR Parts. Furthermore, DAF develops and produces components such as axles and engines for bus and coach producers throughout the world. DAF Trucks N.V. has production facilities in Eindhoven and in Westerlo, Belgium, and more than 1,000 dealers and service points in Europe.