DAF says the models constitute a “completely new vehicle platform, one that is fully prepared for the alternative battery-electric and hydrogen drivelines of the future.”
DAF claims that the new vehicles offer 10% fuel savings and up to 14% more interior space. Some believe the latter will prove to particularly important amid the current driver shortages in Europe. The theory is that space and comfort will be valued increasingly more than it already is in the coming years.
You can read more about the new trucks here.
Commenting on the production milestone, DAF president Harry Wolters said:
“DAF is not just the first company to do this but also the only one. This means that our new trucks for long haulage – the new XF, XG and XG+ – have set a new benchmark for efficiency, safety and driver comfort. These were the main reasons why the European Commission was prepared to give the truck industry literally more room to develop new, optimal cabins. By extending the front by 16 centimetres and paying maximum attention to aerodynamics, we have been able to achieve savings of 10% on fuel consumption and a similar reduction in CO2 emissions.”
According to DAF, the first truck in its new generation series was delivered to André Verbeek, managing director/owner of the Dutch firm Verbeek Agra Vision, which specialises in the domestic and international transport of poultry and eggs using a fleet of 30 vehicles, 25 of which are DAFs.
The truck is to be used by Hennentransport Hooijer, a subsidiary of André Verbeek. The latter has described the new truck has having a “superb level of driver comfort”:
“In addition to unrivalled reliability and the low costs per kilometre, the superb level of driver comfort is also an important reason for our decision to choose DAF. And with the new top model XG+, DAF has once again set a new standard. A very important factor in these times of driver shortages.”