In 2010, DAF Trucks N.V. -- a subsidiary of Paccar -- further strengthened its position on the European truck market.

In the heavy class +15 ton, equivalent of Class 8, a 15.2 percent market share was achieved in the European Union. In terms of volume DAF now takes a solid third place among the European truck manufacturers.

Only 10 years ago, DAF was the smallest of the then-seven European OEMs in the heavy segment in terms of volume. Now, with a market share of 15.2 percent, DAF has achieved a strong third position. In the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, DAF is market leader. In Germany and Italy, DAF is the largest import make.

In almost all countries of the European Union, DAF realized growth in 2010. In the Netherlands (home market) the share in the heavy class increased from 33.3 to 34.7 percent and in Belgium it increased from 18.5 to 22.2 percent. In Germany, Europe's largest truck market, market share rose from 10.6 percent to 11.1 percent, while market share in France and Spain increased to 14.6 percent and 14.4 percent respectively. And also in countries in Central and Eastern Europe, DAF further strengthened its position; in the Czech Republic, market share in the above 15-tonne class rose from 15.5 to 20.9 percent, while market share in Poland was 19.3 percent.

Last year in the 27 countries of the European Union (plus Norway and Switzerland), around 183,000 trucks were registered in the above 15-ton class. This represents an increase of more than 9 percent compared with 2009, when around 168,000 trucks were registered. DAF estimates that industry sales in 2011 of heavy trucks in Europe will end between 220,000 to 240,000 units.