Oaf rolls out its LF range
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Daf has announced full details of model rollout for its new IF six to 18-tonne range, Production of versions up to 7.5 tonnes began officially on 2 April, 7.6 to 15.00-tonne models will come on stream during April/May, 18-tonne units will be produced from June and 6x2 rear-steer rigids from September.
Announcing the timetable at a recent press event in Belgium, IX marketing director Tony Pain said he hoped the new range—which supplants Daf's 45 and 55 Series trucks—would achieve a 10% market share in Europe, with total sales of around 10,000 a year. Key markets remain the UK—where Oaf hopes to equal current sales of 5,500 units a year—and Germany, which Pain says is "the only other market that recognises the 7.5-tonne sector as we do over here".
The vast majority will be used in urban distribution. Pain says 60% of LFs will do 15-40,000km a year, 35% will cover 40-60,000km a year and only 5% 100,000km or more each year: "It's not meant to be a 100,000km-a-year vehicle," he says.
A key benefit of the new range will be improved fuel consumption. "On average, we'd expect an improvement of 5% for Euro-3 compared to Euro-2. That's fairly remarkable," says Pain. "On 7.5-tonners I'd expect to get 16-20mpg, where previously I'd have said 15-19 mpg. One mile per gallon may not sound much, but it all adds up."
III See next week's issue (CM19-25 April) for driving impressions of the new LF at 7.5 tonnes.