Volvo Trucks has made history by securing the “International Truck of the Year 2024” award for its Volvo FH Electric, marking the first time an electric truck has won the accolade. The award was presented at a ceremony during the Solutrans Transport Exhibition in Lyon, France, last night.
Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks, accepted the award on behalf of the company. The accolade recognises the Volvo FH Electric for its exceptional performance, seamless acceleration, and quiet, vibration-free operation. The jury praised the truck for setting new standards in the transition to electric mobility within the commercial transport sector.
Gianenrico Griffini, Chairman of the International Truck of the Year jury, highlighted the significance of the Volvo FH Electric. “With the introduction of the FH Electric, Volvo Trucks has demonstrated a cutting-edge battery electric vehicle that is suitable for a wide range of transport operations. This award underscores the growing momentum towards zero-emission transport in today’s demanding business environment,” Griffini said.
In his acceptance speech, Roger Alm expressed pride in the historic achievement. “Winning this award for the Volvo FH Electric is a momentous milestone. For the first time, the transport industry has chosen an electric vehicle as Truck of the Year. This recognition signifies the dawn of a new era in trucking and affirms that the shift towards zero-emission transport is occurring now,” Alm stated. He also acknowledged the collective effort behind the success, praising the dedication of Volvo Group’s employees, customers, partners, and suppliers.
This marks the fourth time that Volvo’s FH model has been named Truck of the Year. The Volvo FH has been one of the most successful models in the industry, with nearly 1.4 million units sold globally. The Volvo FH Electric, which began production in Volvo’s Gothenburg factory in 2022 and expanded to the Ghent factory in 2023, can handle a maximum weight of 44 tonnes.
Volvo Trucks has been a pioneer in the electric truck market, starting series production of electric trucks in 2019. Today, the company offers a diverse range of six electric truck models designed for various transport needs. Volvo Trucks holds a leading 49% market share for heavy electric trucks in Europe, underscoring its commitment to advancing electric mobility in the commercial vehicle sector.
The International Truck of the Year award, established in 1977, is bestowed by a panel of 24 commercial vehicle journalists from major trucking publications across Europe. The award honours the truck that has made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency over the past year, based on criteria such as technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, energy efficiency, environmental impact, and total cost of ownership.
For more details on the International Truck of the Year award, visit their official website: Truck of the Year.