The accolades were announced yesterday (22 September 2016) in Hanover at the IAA commercial vehicles exhibition and conference.
The new Scania S-series took the top truck prize for its driver comfort, safety (Scania S cabs can also be fitted with dual side curtain airbags – an industry first) and its positive impact on hauliers' potential for improving fuel efficiency.
The jury – composed of 25 leading trade press journalists from 24 European countries and chaired by the Italian automotive journalist Gianenrico Griffini – said the following: “With its new range, Scania has delivered a truck that represents a real state-of-the-art offering in the heavy duty segment, capable of satisfying not only today’s but also tomorrow’s transport needs.”
They also complemented Scania’s on its tailored service offering, which is based on data from more than 200,000 connected Scania vehicles are out on the road.
“The award is the leading recognition in the industry that all our engineers and the entire Scania organisation have done an excellent job,” comments Henrik Henriksson, Scania’s president and CEO.
“Our goal is to always meet our customers' expectations and needs, and the jury’s [conclusion] is a clear confirmation that we have followed the right approach with the new truck generation.”
As for Volkswagen’s new Crafter – unveiled at the IAA show with innovations ranging from driver assistance systems to multiple industry-focused variants – the van won its international award before the vehicle had even been officially launched.
“After the T-series last year, we are delighted to now receive this special award for the new Crafter as well,” comments Dr Eckhard Scholz, Chairman of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles:
“We are very proud of our latest product and of our team whose hard work has made the Crafter the best large transport van.
“We will be using this award to spearhead a successful launch.”