Leyland Trucks hits half million vehicle production milestone

Leyland Trucks hits half million vehicle production milestone

6th December 2021 | DAF UK
  • 500,000th Leyland-built truck goes to DAF operator, Minoli
  • DAF LF 210 16-tonner is one of four new trucks for tile importer and distributor
  • Manufacture at Leyland Assembly Plant commenced in 1980
  • Production of New Generation DAF XF, XG and XG+ underway
Leyland Trucks hits half million vehicle production milestone

Staff from Leyland Trucks and DAF Trucks gather to celebrate the completion of the 500,000th truck built at the Leyland Assembly Plant since production began in 1980. The truck - a DAF LF 210 - was handed over to Italian porcelain tile distributor, Minoli.

Leyland Trucks, the Lancashire-based manufacturer of the full range of DAF trucks, has celebrated the production of its 500,000th vehicle. The half million milestone truck – a 16-tonne GVW DAF LF 210 – was handed over to customer, Minoli, at a special production line ceremony on 2nd December.

Attending the hand-over were Minoli’s Managing Director, Jonathon Minoli, Marketing Manager at DAF Trucks, Phil Moon, and Leyland Trucks Director of Operations, Phil Jones, alongside Paul Whincup, Sales Director at supplying DAF Dealer, HTC.

Leyland Trucks hits half million vehicle production milestone

Left-to-right – Phil Moon - DAF Trucks UK Marketing Manager, Paul Whincup - Sales Director at DAF Dealer HTC, Phil Jones - Director of Operations at Leyland Trucks presenting the keys to the 500,000th Leyland-built truck to Italian porcelain tile importer and distributor, Minoli (pictured is Lucy Minoli from the company's London showroom and father / Managing Director, Jonathon Minoli).

The DAF LF 210 is the first of four new vehicles for Minoli – a leading importer and distributor of Italian porcelain tiles – two of which are spec’d with a 210bhp PACCAR PX-5 engine, ZF AS-Tronic six-speed gearbox, rear air suspension, adjustable roof spoiler and cab collars. Minoli, with its headquarters and distribution centre in Oxford and offices and showrooms in Marylebone, London, has remained an exclusive and loyal DAF operator for almost 40 years.

The DAF LF remains one of the UK’s most popular lightweight fleet trucks, offering benchmark levels of payload potential and driver comfort, alongside outstanding vehicle handling and manoeuvrability.

Leyland Trucks hits half million vehicle production milestone

Minoli's DAF LF 210 brings up a total of half-a-million trucks manufactured at the Leyland Assembly Plant. The truck is the first of four vehicles for the Italian tile importer and distributor

The Leyland Assembly Plant was constructed in 1979 with full production starting in 1980. Today, Leyland Trucks occupies an 86-acre site with 93,000 square metres of covered production space. A workforce of 1,000 includes several fourth and fifth generation employees. The current vehicle ranges include LF, CF, XF models and now also the New Generation DAF range of XF, XG and XG+ vehicles – International Truck of the Year 2022.

In a relationship that spans several decades, Minoli has chosen HTC Group and DAF to meet its requirements for reliable, robust vehicles that have been purpose-built in harmony with the company’s exacting and often changing needs. Increased demand for Minoli’s products, a drive for greater efficiency and a concerted effort to reduce emissions has required an ongoing cycle of investment in expanding the Minoli fleet and upgrading their trucks. With the latest additions, Minoli will be running 14 DAF trucks and a further eight supporting vehicles, giving a daily delivery capacity of over 100,000KGs.

Leyland Trucks hits half million vehicle production milestone

Leyland Trucks Director of Operations, Phil Jones, hands the keys to truck no. 500,000 to Lucy Minoli, alongside her father and Managing Director, Jonathon Minoli.

“We as a company and a family, feel very privileged to have been invited to Leyland Trucks to mark such a momentous milestone in the company’s history,” said Jonathon Minoli. “We’re proud to know that our trucks are built in Britain and that we are supporting British industry. We’ve been a DAF operator for almost 40-years now – and our relationship with the brand has been built on quality and reliability, that in turn allows us to meet our customers’ needs, day after day and year after year.

The lightweight LF range was entirely designed, developed and engineered at Leyland Trucks, while the factory is also home to a unique in-house body-building programme. With Leyland Trucks delivering the highest quality products in the truck industry, the Lancashire-based manufacturer has contributed significantly towards DAF Trucks’ 26-year position as UK truck market leader above 6-tonnes GVW – last year standing at 32%.

Press Contact

Press Contact

Phil Moon, DAF Trucks Ltd.
T:  07802 612172
M: [email protected]