The Volvo Trucks’ FH Electric has followed up its successful bid to be named the International Truck of the Year by scooping the Middle East Truck of the Year award at the Truck and Fleet Awards.
The Truck and Fleet Awards 2024 were held this week at the Ritz Carlton, JBR in Dubai. The awards recognised vehicles and technology from major OEMs and automotive manufacturers, as well as distributors and fleets involved in the transporation, logistics and mobility sectors.
A special judging panel decided the prestigious Middle East Truck of the Year award with their decision revealed at the climax of the evening. Also scoring highly in the judges’ assessment were last year’s winner the Scania Super and the Renault E-Tech D-Wide, which won the Medium Duty Truck of the Year Award.
The Volvo FH is one of the industry’s most successful models ever with nearly 1.4 million trucks sold all over the world. The Volvo FH Electric can operate at a total of 44 tonnes. Production of the Volvo FH Electric started in 2022 in Volvo’s factory in Gothenburg, Sweden, and production in the factory in Ghent, Belgium began in 2023 – and now it is available commercially for all fleets in the UAE.
The award was picked up by Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director of FAMCO.
The Volvo Trucks Electric FH win comes after it was selected as the International Truck of the Year 2024, the fourth time that Volvo’s iconic FH model had been named Truck of the Year.
The other vehicle and product awards were decided by an international campaign which saw 9,000 individual votes across categories reflecting the diversity of technologies available in the market.
While the FH Electric scored a second success on the night by taking home the New Vehicle of the Year Award, the advent of last mile and mid-mile deliveries in the region meant the LCV and Van awards were both hotly contested.
Taking home the Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year award was the Ashok Leyland Partner light-duty truck. Powered by the ZD30 Turbo intercooled Common Rail diesel engine, it ensures competitive fuel efficiency and a smoother driving experience with fewer gear shifts, ideal for city driving. The vehicle boasts global-standard efficiency and performance and is equipped with a modern, ergonomic cab and spacious interiors. With a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 6500kg, it caters to various applications such as parcel goods, perishables, and FMCG products, providing customization options with a tilt-able cabin and low loading platform height.
The IVECO Daily won the Van of the Year award after the culmination of a two-month campaign, where the transportation and mobility industries were asked to select the vehicle they regard as the best in class. The Daily proved to be the outstanding winner in the Van category. IVECO was also awarded the Launch of the Year by Truck and Fleet Middle East magazine for its global, full range launch held at the end of 2023.
Given its high-profile introduction of the Renault E-Tech D-Wide into Tadweer and Averda’s waste management fleet in 2023, it was no surprise that the D-Wide was the outstanding winner of the Medium-Duty Truck of the Year beating the popular HINO 500 in the vote.
Renault Trucks Middle East and Al Masaood, launched the first 100% electric waste truck in the UAE in 2023. Based on the D-Series, the Renault Trucks E-tech truck was run as a pilot programme last summer to gauge the vehicle’s performance in the high temperatures. Al Masaood and Renault are also using the truck to address logistical challenges such as charging station availability along key routes.
Special recognition was also reserved for GORICA which took home the Outstanding Contribution to Transportation with its Electrified Waste Compactor.
Shortlisted alongside FAMCO for its introduction of electric CVs into the market and Momentum Logistics, who are using AI to enhance their fleet operation, GORICA’s Electrified Waste Compactor and the practical challenges it faced in development and then application made it a worthy winner. Working alongside Renault Trucks, Averda and Tadweer, it was noted that GORICA has proven that it is possible to decarbonise waste collection in the region.
Vital to public transport, private travel and hospitality, buses and coaches are the work horses of passenger transportation in the region. The Volvo 7900EV won Bus of the Year and the Zhongtong LCK6128H.
