Volvo’s electric truck range wins International Truck of the Year 2027 at IAA

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VOLVO Trucks’ new generation of heavy-duty electric trucks has been named International Truck of the Year 2027, giving the Swedish manufacturer its eighth win in the prestigious award and putting battery-electric heavy trucks at the center of its IAA Transportation 2026 presentation in Hanover, Germany.

The award, presented during the opening of IAA Transportation, goes to Volvo’s electric range rather than a single truck. It covers the FH Electric, FM Electric and FMX Electric, along with the new FH Aero Electric. The jury cited the range’s longer driving distances, energy efficiency, payload capability and flexibility across different transport applications.

It is the second time the Volvo FH Electric has won the International Truck of the Year award. The model previously took the title in 2024, when it became the first battery-electric truck to win the award.

The latest recognition comes as Volvo begins series production of its next generation of heavy-duty electric trucks. Production started Sept. 14 at the company’s Tuve plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, with additional production planned at its facility in Ghent, Belgium.

The flagship of the new range is the FH Aero Electric with extended range. Volvo says it can travel up to 700 kilometers, or about 435 miles, on a single charge. The additional range is made possible by a new e-axle that creates space for more battery capacity without requiring a larger vehicle footprint. The truck also supports megawatt charging, an important development for long-distance electric freight because charging can be fitted into scheduled driver rest periods.

The FH Aero Electric is not simply a longer-range version of Volvo’s existing electric truck. Volvo is positioning it for routes that have traditionally been difficult to electrify because of distance, payload and charging requirements. At IAA, visitors can test-drive the truck, giving the company an opportunity to demonstrate the technology in an operating environment rather than simply display it on a stand.

Volvo has also increased the range of its next-generation FH Electric, FM Electric and FMX Electric models to as much as 470 kilometers, or about 292 miles. The trucks use a new electric driveline designed to improve energy efficiency, productivity and driving performance. The FH is aimed at regional and interregional transport, the FM at heavier regional work, and the FMX at construction applications.

The company is taking the electric range into heavier-duty territory as well. At IAA, Volvo has introduced an electric truck combination capable of operating at gross combination weights of up to 80 tonnes. The truck is designed for heavy transport applications and has a claimed range of up to 450 kilometers, or about 280 miles, with megawatt charging. The vehicle is scheduled to enter the market in early 2027.

The developments are significant because Volvo is moving its battery-electric trucks beyond the applications where electric commercial vehicles first gained a foothold. Urban distribution and short regional routes remain part of the portfolio, but the company is now targeting longer regional and long-haul operations as well as high-payload work.

Volvo says about 7,000 of its electric trucks have accumulated roughly 500 million kilometers, or 311 million miles, since the company introduced its first electric truck models in 2019. Nearly 2,000 customers in more than 50 countries are operating Volvo electric trucks, according to the company.

Volvo’s electric lineup is not the company’s only alternative to conventional diesel. It is also showing a hydrogen-powered internal-combustion engine truck at IAA as part of its effort to develop several lower-carbon powertrain options for heavy transport.

The company continues to display its latest combustion-engine trucks as well, but at IAA the message from Volvo is increasingly centered on how far battery-electric trucking can go.

The International Truck of the Year jury’s decision reflects that shift. Florian Engel, chairman of the jury, said Volvo’s new electric range shows how battery-electric heavy transport is moving from individual applications toward a more comprehensive transport solution.

That may be the most important development on Volvo’s IAA stand. The company is no longer presenting electric trucks simply as an alternative for particular routes or fleet niches. With a 700-kilometer flagship, 80-ton capability, megawatt charging and a broader range of electric models entering series production, Volvo is making a direct case that battery power can handle a much larger share of heavy road freight.

Note: Cleantechnica is filing the bulk of its IAA Transportation week stories following a series of unfortunate incidents including a stolen bag, iPad and phone with a lot of the photos not yet uploaded on Google drive. Tag tracking has revealed the approximate location of the stolen items.

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