DAF Trucks started out as a small workshop in Eindhoven, The Netherlands in 1928. “Hub Van Doorne, Machinefabriek en Reparatie-inrichting” (Hub Van Doorne Workshop) – named after its founder, 28-year-old Hub Van Doorne – primarily focused on welding and forging.
How it all started
Van Doorne would not have been able to start his business if he had not taken a closer look at his former employer, Mr. Hyungs (owner of the Sjef Mandigers brewery in Eindhoven). The latter was very impressed with Hub’s ability in the technical field after he repaired his car “Stearns-Knight”, he then gave him enough money to open a machine shop.
Just a year later, the number of employees at “Machinefabriek” grew from 4 (1928) to 32. With the onset of the Great Depression, Hub Van Doorne and brother Wim decided to change the profile of the company to the production of trailers and semi-trailers. The former Hub van Doorne’s Machinefabriek thus became “Van Doorne’s Aanhangwagen Fabriek” (Van Doorne’s Semi Trailer Factory) or DAF. The main focus at that time was on the new trailer chassis line.
DAF’s first major project was the construction of a dismantled trailer for transporting railway containers. Being the first company in the world to supply container trailers, its production process required a large number of employees. Thus, it is not surprising that by 1936 at least 100 people came to work at DAF every morning.
First serial production
As soon as the Second World War ended, there was serious construction in the country, and multifunctional utility vehicles became a top priority for all construction companies. It was then that the company “DAF” decided to start its first mass production of trailers, as well as trucks, buses and even cars.
By 1949, DAF is using a new factory (about 9,000 square meters) to manufacture commercial vehicles. In the first series saw the light of A30, A50 and A60. All of them were produced for internal needs and based on gasoline (Hercules) and diesel (Perkins) engines. One year later, in 1950, DAF introduced the new A10 at the RAI European Road Transport Show.
A few years later, the Dutch truck manufacturer quickly expanded its product range to include garbage trucks, dump trucks and even military trucks.
The 1950s began as a revolutionary era for the Dutch manufacturer, as DAF began building its own cabs – cab making was the job of coachbuilders until 1951, and later producing “Leyland” engines under license. It all started with designing for the internal needs of the company (chassis, engine, axles, cabs), which gave the company a sense of responsibility and quality assurance.
DAF Gold Collection
The 2000 truck series was launched in 1957. Five years later, DAF introduced its first all-aluminum semi-trailer, the Eurotrailer. But it was not yet a “hit” of the 60s. The highlight of the collection was without a doubt the 2600 – later called “the mother of international road transport” – which made DAF the market leader throughout Europe for years to come. Its hallmark was a sleeper cab, and 50,000 units were produced in the entire year of 1964. Shortly after launching the most successful model, Hub Van Doorne left DAF Trucks in 1965.
At the same time, in 1958, at the RAI European Road Transport Show, the first passenger car, the DAF 600, was shown equipped with an automatic continuously variable transmission. The automotive division was later bought by Volvo (1975).
A new generation of DAF trucks was launched in the early 70s, with the production of the F1600 and F2200 tilt cabs. These were trial models of the famous DAF 2800 – the successor to the 2600 – which featured a full-length twin-berth cab and a new 11.6-litre intercooled turbo engine. DAF is the first truck manufacturer in the world to use this combination to increase power, torque and reduce fuel consumption.
DAF acquired British Leyland in 1987, becoming a player in the van market with the 400. However, the heavy-duty segment is DAF’s main focus for the launch of the new 95 series and therefore increased demands after the successful models 2800, 3300 and 3600. The true recognition of the 95 series DAF is confirmed by receiving the award “International Truck of the Year” in 1988. Four years later, DAF launched the new 65, 75 and 85 series.
After a rather poor commercial vehicle market in Europe in the early 90s, DAF Trucks was reorganized and launched its first products under the new name DAF Truck N.V in 1994.
Shortly after the release of the “95 Super SpaceCab”, DAF passes into the hands of the American giant PACCAR (owned by Kenworth and Peterbilt). A few years later, the new 95XF became the top model in the heavy haul and intercity market, winning the second major international award for DAF “International Truck 1998”. The 2000s began with the production of the CF series (medium and heavy vehicles) and the LF series (distribution vehicles) – the latter of which won the “International Truck 2002” award. Finally, a year later, in 2002, a new XF series car appeared.
