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New Generation DAF Launch Event – An unforgettable evening!
Hallam Truck Centre Welcomes Customers to Celebrate the New Generation DAF Range
Hallam Truck Centre customers and their guests were recently invited to our Next Generation DAF Launch Event, where they had the exclusive opportunity to see, touch and experience the highly anticipated New Generation DAF models up close.
Complete with great food, drinks, live entertainment and plenty of Dutch flair, the evening was not only a celebration of the latest DAF range, but also an opportunity to thank our customers for their ongoing support of our business.
As guests arrived at the dealership, they were greeted by a festoon-lit pop-up beer garden outside of our Service workshop, with two New Generation DAF models, the DAF XF and DAF XB, proudly on display.
Upon entering the workshop-turned-entertainment hub, guests were warmly welcomed by the Hallam Truck Centre team, and the sound of acoustic duo, Nathan and Susie belting out some pub-classic tunes. The New Generation DAF XG, XF, and XD in a bold red colour were positioned throughout the workshop and lit in red, making a statement from the moment guests arrived - creating an impressive scene that stopped guests in their tracks and really set the tone of the evening.
It wasn't just the trucks turning heads on the night! To celebrate DAF's Dutch heritage, guests could head to the bar and grab themselves a beverage inspired by the brand's home country, like a Bols Genever on ice, or a Hollandia Lager. It was a great way to bring a bit of Holland to the launch while giving guests the chance to connect, talk and enjoy the evening.
New Generation DAF Trucks Take Centre Stage
As the night kicked off guests were encouraged to get up close to the vehicles, explore the latest innovations and discover how the New Generation DAF range is setting new benchmarks in driver comfort, safety, efficiency and performance.
The event provided a valuable opportunity for customers to take a closer look at the latest advancements from DAF Trucks Australia first-hand and learn more about the technology behind the new models.
Dutch-Inspired Food, Drinks and Entertainment
Guests were treated to a delicious Dutch-inspired menu, catered by Essential Catering, featuring a mouth-watering selection designed to offer something for everyone. A standout of the evening was the Rookworst Slider with Sauerkraut, Mosterd & Kaas - a flavour-packed combination of spiced, smoked pork sausage, sauerkraut, mustard and cheese. Alongside it, the Beef bitterballen with mustard dip, savoury meat-filled balls traditionally deep-fried and served with mustard, proved to be another crowd favourite.
Driving Industry Partnerships and Customer Support
Joel Saunders, Hallam Truck Centre Sales Manager, kicked off formalities by officially welcoming all our valued customers and thanking them for joining us for the special evening.
Joel then shared the history of Hallam Truck Centre and its partnership with DAF, highlighting the strong connection between the Dutch heritage of DAF and its presence in Australia. DAF’s story began in 1928, when Dutch engineer Hub van Doorne established a small construction workshop in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. From these humble beginnings, DAF grew from an engineering and trailer manufacturing business into a renowned truck manufacturer, with the first DAF truck entering production in 1949. Today, that Dutch heritage continues to have a strong connection with Australia, with DAF trucks manufactured locally at PACCAR Australia’s Bayswater facility, bringing together DAF’s European heritage, engineering and innovation with Australian manufacturing and transport requirements.
Following Joel, guests were treated to a DAF history video, which was shown on the big screen, taking them through the brand’s rich heritage and journey over the years. Immediately following the history video, the atmosphere shifted as the highly anticipated New Generation DAF launch video played. Dynamic lighting effects swept across the workshop, perfectly timed with the dramatic visuals and cinematic effects on screen. The combination of lighting and sound created an electrifying reveal, building excitement throughout the room as guests watched the New Generation DAF models take centre stage.
We also had the privilege of Andrew Molnar, PACCAR Australia Director of Sales and Marketing, say a few words including a thank you to customers for their ongoing loyalty and support DAF trucks, and providing an overview of PACCAR Australia, DAF and the relationship that continues to grow with Hallam Truck Centre.
Following Andrew, Danyon May, DAF Australia Regional Sales Manager, provided an engaging perspective on the new DAF model range from a driver’s point of view. Danyon highlighted the three key pillars of the New Generation DAF range: Efficiency, Safety and Driver Comfort.
- Safety - Industry-leading safety technology and features that protect drivers, other road users, and your customers' businesses.
- Efficiency - Best-in-class fuel economy, aerodynamics, driveline performance and uptime that deliver real and measurable operating cost advantages.
- Driver Comfort - A world-class cab environment designed to attract and retain quality drivers, reducing fatigue and improving productivity.
These pillars represent DAF's commitment to providing products that give Australian transport operators a genuine competitive edge.
Vince King, Hallam Truck Centre General Manager, concluded the night by introducing the leadership teams from Hallam Truck Centre, Bayswater Truck Centre and Melbourne North Truck Centre, and providing insight into the dealerships' capabilities and future plans.
Celebrating Customers and the Future of DAF Trucks
With the formalities wrapped up, guests were encouraged to stay and enjoy the remainder of the evening, with live entertainment continuing and plenty of opportunity to catch up with friends, colleagues and industry connections.
Throughout the night, the display vehicles attracted plenty of attention, with customers climbing in and out of the cabs, checking out the new features and getting a real feel for the comfort, technology and driver-focused design of the New Generation DAF range. As the evening drew to a close, guests were invited to take home a special gift as a thank you for their continued support of Hallam Truck Centre. Each guest received a gift bag packed with Dutch-themed Hallam Truck Centre merchandise, including a stroopwafel, a traditional Dutch syrup waffle that was a hit with guests and one of the most talked-about treats of the night!
The New Generation DAF launch was a fantastic opportunity to bring our customers, partners and team together to celebrate the next chapter for DAF Trucks Australia.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a memorable one. We look forward to sharing many more milestones with our customers and the wider trucking community.
To view all the photos from the evening, please visit our Facebook page.