In 1928 Hubert "Hub" van Doorne founded the company as Commanditaire Vennootschap Hub van Doorne's Machinefabriek. His co-founder and investor was Huenges, managing director of a brewery. Van Doorne had repaired Huenges's car several times. Huenges was so pleased with his work that he offered to lend him money if he wanted to start for his own. Hub started to work in a small workshop on the grounds of the brewery. In 1932 the company, now run by Hub and his brother, Wim van Doorne, changed its name to Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek (Van Doorne's Trailer Factory), abbreviated to DAF. Huenges left the company in 1936 and the DAF company was now completely in the hands of the van Doorne brothers.

After the Second World War, luxury cars and trucks were very scarce. This meant a big opportunity for DAF. In 1949 the company started making trucks, trailers and buses, changing its name to Van Doorne's Automobiel Fabriek (Van Doorne's Automobile Factory). The first truck model was the DAF A30.

In the winter of 1954 Hub van Doorne had the idea to use belt drive, just like many of the machines in the factory that were belt-driven, to drive road vehicles. In 1955 DAF produced its first drafts of a car belt drive system. Over the next few years the design was developed and refined. In February 1958 DAF demonstrated a small belt-driven four-seater car at the Dutch car show (the AutoRAI). The public reaction was very positive and 4000 cars were ordered. In 1959 DAF started selling the world's first car with a continuously variable transmission, the small four-seater DAF 600. This was the first of a series of models to be released in subsequent years, including the DAF 33, DAF 44, DAF 55 and DAF 66, all using the innovative Variomatic transmission system.

In 1967 DAF opened a new plant in Born for car production. The 44 was the first model to be produced there.[1]

DAF sold its passenger car division, along with what is now the NedCar factory in Born, in 1975 to the Swedish company Volvo Cars, leaving DAF to concentrate on its successful line of trucks.

In 1987 DAF merged with the Leyland Trucks division of Rover Group, and was floated on the Dutch stock exchange as DAF NV. The new company traded as Leyland DAF in the UK, and as DAF elsewhere.

DAF's successful 95 series was introduced in 1988, bringing DAF their first International Truck of the Year title. This series of trucks was expanded, with the 85, 75, 65, 45 and later the 55.

DAF Bus was split off of in 1990 to become a part of United Bus.

Following difficulties in the British market, DAF NV went bankrupt in 1993. A new company, DAF Trucks, appeared in the Netherlands as a result of a management buy-out of the Dutch operations, as did Leyland Trucks and LDV (vans) in the UK.

In 1996 PACCAR acquired DAF Trucks. Interestingly, DAF Trucks and Leyland Trucks came together again in 1998 when PACCAR also acquired Leyland Trucks.

Truck business

DAF produced their first truck, the A30, in 1949. This truck was upgraded in the following years. Their first attempt into the international market was a failure, the 2000DO. Their next truck was the 2600, which became a big seller. They also produced a so-called torpedo-front tractor.

In the 1970s a new body style was introduced, which was upgraded into the late 1980s. DAF was also one of the first to introduce a turbocharged diesel engine into their trucks, which in these years became very evident with their 3600.

There is a DAF LF45 hybrid version.

Sport

Trucks

1980s: DAF trucks started with the Dakar Rally, winning in 1982, 85 and 87. In the later years, they had a twin engine truck, with a combined power output of more than 1000 hp.

1988: Two trucks were entered into the Paris-Dakar rally. Jan de Rooy's truck was at a certain stage at the third place overall (!), beating the Peugeot 405 T16's on speed. The other truck, driver by Kees Van Loevestijn, was involved in a crash in which he died, and almost taking the lives of the other 2 occupants of the truck. DAF withdrew.

1996: DAF started competing in the European Truck Race series, first not very successful, but by 1999 almost champion. To everyone's surprise, they withdrew.

2002: DAF competed in the Dakar Rally, with Jan de Rooy and his son Gerard. It was a learning year.

2003: DAF competed in the Paris-Dakar rally, winning numerous stages, but Gerard crashed out and Jan had a lot of problems.

2004: DAF competed in the Paris-Dakar rally, powering six racetrucks. Jan en Gerard de Rooy, the team Tridec, The team Hans Bekx with 2 teams and the GINAF Rally Power team (Note that 4 trucks were built by DAF, 2 by GINAF).

2005: Hans Bekx almost became second overall in the truck division, before being thrown out of the list because of an irregularity, something which the (especially Dutch) racing fans could not imagine.

2006: Jan and Gerard de Rooij were excluded from the Dakar because of paperwork issues. Numerous rumours claim that the Kamaz team has used its influence in the Dakar organisation in this matter. It led to a huge fall in popularity of the event in the Benelux.

Current models

CF series

XF series

    LF series

DAF CF

DAF CF is a range of trucks produced by DAF. All CF65 2 axle rigids, and all right hand drive versions of the CF75 and CF85 are assembled at Leyland Trucks in the UK.[1]

DAF XF

DAF XF is a range of trucks produced by DAF. All right hand drive versions of the XF are assembled at Leyland Trucks in the UK.[1]

The XF 105 won the International Truck of the Year 2007 award.[2]

DAF LF

DAF LF is a range of trucks designed, developed and assembled by Leyland Trucks, and marketed worldwide under the DAF brand name.

The LF45 and LF55 are powered by Cummins B4.5 and B6.7 engines respectively, and the LF shares its cab with the Renault Midlum.

The LF won the International Truck of the Year 2002 award.[1]