The World’s largest truck and commercial vehicle show, the IAA Transportation expo at Hanover in Germany got underway overnight with the president of the German Association of Automotive Industry (VDA), Hidegarde Müller expressing her enthusiasm for the event.
On the press day for the Hanover Show, the important “Stars of the Year” awards for 2025 were presented, including the International Bus of the Year, International Van of the Year, International Truck of the Year, the Truck Innovation Award, and the International Trailer Awards,
The awards which honour what the Show describes as ‘ outstanding achievements and innovations in the transport and logistics industry’, don’t always meet with universal agreement, with the International truck of the Year often copping flack for giving the award to truck that are yet to be launched.
According to Müller the biennial IAA Transportation expo this year ‘impressively demonstrates how the commercial vehicle sector is advancing towards climate neutrality through innovative technologies and forward-looking concepts’.
“The ‘Stars of the Year’ awards not only honour the best products and innovations but also inspire the entire industry to further pursue their visions for the future,” said Müller.
“The commercial vehicle industry is facing several challenges at the same time including the transition to software-defined vehicles which requires completely new approaches to vehicle development,” she said.
SebastianTschödrich, the global client Partner for the automotive sector at Capgemini, said the IAA Stars of the Year Awards ceremony, goes hand in hand with successfully adapting new business models, like subscription-based features.
“Meanwhile, transitioning to sustainable propulsion systems poses a particular challenge for heavy vehicles and the industry needs leaders like those honoured today who successfully drive the transformation with courageous ideas, foresight and decisiveness, and we congratulate them,” said Tschödrich,
The headline award winner of the International Truck of the Year announced in Hanover over night was the battery electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, which was honoured because of the performance of its zero emission powertrain, which uses two 400 kW electric motors on an electric axle with three LFP battery packs of 207 kWh each, which enables a range of more than 500 kilometres without recharging.
The jury president of the International Truck of the Year, Gianenrico Griffini, said that once again, the automotive industry has showcased cutting-edge technology at the IAA Transportation.
“Mercedes-Benz Trucks designed the eActros 600 from the outset as a battery-electric truck that can be used for a wide range of long-haul operations,” said Griffini.
MAN’s hTGX was the winner of the Truck Innovation Award, which the jury declared, opens a new chapter in the decarbonisation of road transport in heavy-duty applications, such as in the construction sector, in challenging climatic conditions.
“This special recognition was given to MAN’s hTGX for diesel-like performance and driveability delivered by MAN’s 16.8-litre H4576 in-line six spark-ignition hydrogen engine,” Griffini said.
MAN said it is working on hydrogen technology as a complementary zero-emission solution for special applications such as heavy transport or for areas where charging infrastructure is difficult to realise.
At the IAA, MAN is showing the prototype of its hydrogen combustion truck, which it says will be delivered to customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and selected non-European countries for the first time as the MAN hTGX in a small series of initially 200 vehicles from next year. Just like its electric counterpart, it fulfils the strict criteria as a zero-emission vehicle says MAN.
International Bus of the Year was awarded to Solaris, which the jury said impressed with its outstanding performance and its progress in the field of hydrogen.
Tom Terjsen, chairman of the jury of the International Bus of the Year, said that when the Solaris Urbino 12 Electric won Bus of the Year in 2017, it was because of its unique design, practical interior and environmentally friendly powertrain, which was also the first time the award was made to an electric bus.
“When Solaris presented an 18-metre hydrogen-powered articulated bus at this year’s Bus Euro Test, it caused great excitement, ” Terjsen said.
“Hydrogen is probably one of the sustainable fuels that will grow fastest in public transport in the coming years,” he added
“The fact that Solaris has chosen to invest so heavily in this is a matter of great respect and they have also managed to construct a bus that meets future requirements both when it comes to passenger capacity, driver safety, a good workplace and, not least, a sustainable and environmentally friendly powertrain,” he concluded.
Renault Master’s was named International Van of the Year, with the model impressing with its innovative technologies, striking design improvements, and an important step for the area of sustainable mobility according to the jury.
Jury president of the International Van of the Year, Jarlath Sweeney congratulated Renault on creating a striking new van range for today and tomorrow
“Its distinctive sleek aerodynamic design lines will appeal to many, while its modular platform facilitates all drivetrains from ICE, electric and hydrogen and is masterful,” Sweeney said.
The IAA Expo is held every two years in the German city of Hanover and will run until the 22nd September.
