The new DAF XD and XF Electric have been voted International Truck of the Year 2026, with Bosch taking out the Truck Innovation Award for its Road Hazard Service.
It is the third time DAF has won the ITOY title with its New Generation range, following the success of the XF, XG and XG+ in 2022 and the XD in 2023.
The trophy was presented to Harald Seidel, president of DAF Trucks, during the International Awards Gala Evening at the Solutrans trade fair in Lyon, France.
With 92 points, the Dutch manufacturer’s heavy-duty electric series finished ahead of its competitors in the final count.
The diesel-powered MAN D30 PowerLion provided strong competition, while the fully electric SANY e435 marked the first time a Chinese truck has reached the shortlist for Europe’s most prestigious commercial vehicle award.
In line with the rules of the International Truck of the Year (IToY), 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.
This is the third consecutive year that an electric truck has taken the title. Of the five vehicles shortlisted for 2026, three were battery-electric models.
During extensive test drives, jury members praised the XD and XF Electric for the perfection of their drivelines and the almost imperceptible gear changes. Their range also benefits from the 9% aerodynamic improvement achieved across DAF’s latest generation. The modular vehicle concept, offering a wide choice of battery and axle configurations, was also commended for providing operators with exceptional flexibility.
“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,” said Florian Engel, chairman of the International Truck of the Year jury.
“Moreover, this DAF configuration provides perfect weight distribution, enabling virtually all use cases to be covered by a single technical platform.”
The 2026 Nominees (in alphabetical order):
- DAF XD / XF
- MAN D30 PowerLion
- MAN eTGS
- SANY e435
- SCANIA Super 11
Bosch wins truck innovation award 2026
Bosch was named the winner of the Truck Innovation Award 2026 at the International Truck of the Year award, for its Road Hazard Service, recognised as the year’s most outstanding technology innovation.
The Truck Innovation Award recognises the profound technological transformation and the energy transition in the automotive industry.
Bosch’s “Road Hazard Service” provides road users with real-time information on potential hazards such as fog, heavy rain, accidents, or broken-down vehicles. Since June 2024, the service has been in use in millions of passenger cars across Europe. Since December 2024, it has also been available in commercial vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
The “Road Hazard Service” uses anonymised swarm data from these connected vehicles, as well as information from weather services and road operators, to detect critical situations at an early stage.
Sensors in the vehicles supply data such as temperature, windscreen-wiper activity, or interventions by the stability control programme. Algorithms infer possible risks – such as aquaplaning or poor visibility – from this data, and drivers receive timely warnings via the navigation system.
The service is part of the Bosch Connected Map Services, which network vehicle data to enhance driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control and emergency braking assistants, enabling vehicles to respond better to changing road conditions.
In addition, the Connected Map Services play an important role in automated driving by acting as a kind of additional sensor. They provide highly accurate data on road conditions, lane geometry, and positioning, allowing automated vehicles to drive more safely, smoothly, and proactively.
With a total score of 66 jury points, Bosch prevailed over the Volvo VNL Autonomous, which is already operating fully autonomously on US roads. Third place went to Accelera, the new business segment from Cummins that consolidates a complete portfolio of zero-tailpipe-emission solutions.
The award’s jury recognised the substantial impact on road safety and the reduction of potential accident risks – such as serious crashes caused by slippery roads or poor visibility – as well as the tremendous future potential of using swarm data.
“Bosch’s Road Hazard Service shows the significant impact that the effective use of big data can already have on people’s lives and ultimately everyone’s safety today,” said International Truck of the Year jury chairman Florian Engel.
“It also helps make road freight transport safer and represents another building block on the path to automated driving here in Europe as well.”
The 2026 Nominees (in alphabetical order):
- Accelera by Cummins
- Aurora Driver
- Bosch Road Hazard Service
- Einride Autonomous Border Crossing
- Scania DHL Range Extender Project
- Torc Robotics Autonomous Trucks
- Volvo VNL Autonomous
