Volvo has been announced as the winner of the International Truck of the Year at last week’s IAA Transportation Expo at Hanover in Germany, marking the eighth time Volvo has taken the award.
The often controversial award is judged by an International jury and has often been award to trucks that haven’t actually been officially launched or gone on sale. In fact this year the International Truck of the Year has not goner to a truck but range of trucks, so perhaps it should be renamed International Trucks of the Year, while the actual prize is not for this year but for 2027.
The International Truck of the Year organisation was launched in 1977 and the jury is made up of 24 commercial vehicle journalists from major trucking magazines throughout Europe.
The Organisation says that its annual award is given to the truck introduced in the market in the previous 12 months that has made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency. \
It says that several key criteria are evaluated, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, drivability, energy efficiency, environmental ‘footprint’, and total cost of ownership.
Previously Volvo has won the award in 2024 with the Volvo FH Electric, in 2014 with the Volvo FH, in 2000 and 1994 also with the Volvo FH Series, in 1986 with its FL Series, in 1984 with the F10 as well as being the inaugural winner in 1979 with its F7 model
Volvo was awarded the prize for its full battery electric truck range including the FH Electric, FM electric and the FMX Electric models with the jury saying the award recognises that electric transport is a viable option for more applications than ever before.
The jury praised the way Volvo has developed its electric portfolio beyond a single vehicle or application and it particularly highlighted how a combination of battery chemistries, driveline and battery packaging, different cab and chassis configurations, and different solutions can be tailored to a variety of 
transport assignments.
“The Volvo Trucks winning range represents a major evolution of their battery-electric heavy-duty offering. With the new electric range, the company demonstrates how quickly battery-electric heavy-duty transport is moving from individual applications towards a comprehensive transport solution,” says Florian Engel, chair of the International Truck of the Year.
Locally Volvo Australia’s vice president of sales and marketing, Tom Chapman said he was pleased to once again see that Volvo Trucks has been awarded for progress and innovation in electromobility
“The recently launched second generation represents a major step forward in electric transport and it’s encouraging to see that progress recognised by the ITOY jury,” Chapman said.
Volvo said that its new electric range offers increased range, of up top 400km, improved payload, and reduced charging time compared to previous models and that it is designed for demanding regional, city distribution, construction, and utility work applications.
Volvo claims that since 2019, 7,000 of its electric trucks have driven 500 million kilometres worldwide and that currently nearly 2,000 customers in more than 50 countries are using electric Volvo trucks in their daily operations.
The company also claims that its broad electric line-up, which totals five electric truck models available in Australia has been designed to handle a wide variety of transport assignments.
It further claims that during seven years of electrification, it has built strong expertise in optimising the installed energy usage, charging, and service of electric trucks.
