DAF Logo

DAF Trucks N.V.

The DAF emblem centers on a bold red wordmark that reflects Dutch engineering discipline and the brand's long commercial vehicle heritage. Its clean lettering and blue accent give the identity a practical, confident character suited to trucks, transport and fleet visibility.

Official website
Live logo URL
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DAF full

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Choose the right DAF asset

Start with the shape that fits the slot, then tune size and format in the URL.

Full logo

Best for directories, marketplace cards, comparison pages, and any surface where the complete mark has room to breathe.

Badge

Best for compact UI: filters, tables, saved vehicles, mobile lists, and favicon-like brand slots.

Wordmark

Best when the manufacturer name needs to stay legible in headers, partner lists, and editorial pages.

Implementation

Use the DAF logo across your stack.

Copy a real CDN URL, then keep the same asset working in markup, components, native apps, and data calls.

Use it in any stack
One keyed Motomarks URL works in plain markup, component frameworks, native image loaders, and API-backed views.
logo.html
1<img2  src="https://motomarks.io/img/daf?token=YOUR_API_KEY"3  alt="DAF logo"4  width="128"5  height="128"6  loading="lazy"7/>

Need more than the image?

Fetch the brand record when your UI also needs metadata, ordered colors, or attribution context.

GET https://api.motomarks.io/brands/daf
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_SECRET_KEY
Read the API docs

Reference

More about DAF.

Brand history, logo changes, color notes, usage examples, and common questions.

What makes this mark recognizable?

Identity cues, heritage, and visual details to keep in mind before the asset lands in your UI.

DAF began in Eindhoven in 1928 as Van Doorne's Aanhangwagenfabriek, a trailer and engineering business founded by Hub van Doorne with support from his brother Wim van Doorne.

As the company expanded into trucks and later passenger cars, the DAF name became the central visual identifier, typically presented as a strong wordmark rather than a pictorial badge. Historic DAF branding has often emphasized clear block lettering, reflecting the company's practical engineering roots and commercial vehicle focus. The current DAF Trucks identity uses a red uppercase wordmark with a blue horizontal accent, reinforcing a direct, industrial and recognizably Dutch brand character.

First color in the reference palette

Motomarks records #E30613 as the primary DAF reference color, with any alternate swatches listed in the color reference and API response.

How the mark got here

The identity shifts that explain the DAF logo in use today.

Origins

DAF was founded in Eindhoven in 1928 as Van Doorne's Aanhangwagenfabriek, originally focused on trailers, semi-trailers and engineering work. Hub van Doorne led the business with the involvement of his brother Wim van Doorne, and the company name was later shortened to DAF. Its early reputation came from practical mechanical solutions and robust transport equipment.

Move into Trucks

After the Second World War, DAF expanded from trailers into truck manufacturing and became an important Dutch commercial vehicle producer. The DAF name was applied prominently to vehicle fronts, using straightforward lettering that made the brand visible in fleet and road use. This emphasis on the wordmark established a visual identity that has remained central to the brand.

Passenger Car Era

DAF also produced passenger cars from the late 1950s, becoming known for the Variomatic continuously variable transmission. Models such as the DAF 600, DAF 33, DAF 44 and DAF 66 carried the DAF name into the consumer market. The passenger car division was later taken over by Volvo, while DAF continued as a commercial vehicle brand.

PACCAR Ownership

DAF Trucks became part of PACCAR Inc in 1996. Under PACCAR ownership, the brand continued to develop heavy and medium-duty trucks for Europe and international markets. Its contemporary visual identity has remained centered on the DAF wordmark, supported by a red, white and blue color treatment associated with the current truck brand.

When the logo changed

A compact record of redesigns, visual turns, and the reasons the mark moved.

1928

Van Doorne Factory Origins

The business used the Van Doorne name before DAF became the familiar shortened brand. The identity was rooted in a practical company name rather than an ornate symbol.

Reason for redesign: The abbreviated DAF name provided a shorter, more memorable identity as the company grew beyond its original workshop and trailer activities.

1949

DAF Truck Wordmark

As DAF entered truck production, the brand name became a prominent front-facing wordmark on commercial vehicles. The lettering was functional, legible and suited to heavy-duty transport use.

Reason for redesign: Truck production required a clear manufacturer identity that could be recognized on vehicle fronts, fleet applications and service materials.

1958

Passenger Car Branding

DAF passenger cars carried the DAF name in compact badging and model identification, extending the brand from commercial vehicles into consumer automobiles. The wordmark remained the main point of recognition.

Reason for redesign: The introduction of passenger cars required brand presentation suitable for retail vehicles while retaining continuity with the established DAF name.

1996

Modern DAF Trucks Identity

The modern DAF Trucks identity is built around bold uppercase red lettering with a blue horizontal accent beneath the wordmark. The mark is simple, high contrast and effective on grilles, dealer signage, fleet communications and digital surfaces.

Reason for redesign: The PACCAR era reinforced DAF as a focused truck manufacturer, with a strong wordmark system suitable for international commercial vehicle markets.

What to preserve in production

Shape, color, and type cues that keep DAF recognizable at app scale.

Composition

The DAF logo is a compact wordmark, using the three-letter name as the primary composition. Its horizontal layout is stable and direct, which suits vehicle grilles, dealer signs and fleet graphics where quick recognition matters.

Symbol

The logo does not rely on an animal, crest or abstract emblem. Its meaning comes from the DAF name itself, which is historically derived from Van Doorne's Aanhangwagenfabriek, and from the brand's association with Dutch transport engineering.

Lettering

The typography is heavy, uppercase and geometric in feel. The broad letterforms communicate strength and utility, while the short three-letter name gives the mark a compact industrial presence.

Color

Red is the dominant identity color and gives the mark energy, visibility and mechanical confidence. The blue accent commonly used with the modern DAF wordmark adds a cooler technical note and connects the identity to a red, white and blue visual system.

Shape

The primary shape is a horizontal wordmark supported by a straight underline or accent. This low, wide structure mirrors the practical proportions of commercial vehicle branding and works well on front panels and signage.

Heritage

The DAF identity reflects a company that grew from trailer engineering into trucks and briefly into passenger cars. Its reliance on the name rather than a decorative badge reinforces continuity with the firm's manufacturing origins.

Market context

DAF is strongly associated with the Netherlands, especially Eindhoven and the Dutch automotive industry. The logo represents a rare European truck marque with roots in both commercial vehicle production and historic passenger car innovation.

Design logic

The design philosophy is functional, clear and durable. It prioritizes legibility, strong color contrast and immediate brand recognition over complex symbolism.

Where teams place it

Common product surfaces where DAF assets need to stay clear, consistent, and fast.

Truck grille badges

Truck operators

DAF trucks use the wordmark prominently on the front of vehicles, where the short name and high-contrast color treatment support recognition in traffic and fleet operations.

Dealer signage

Dealers

Authorized DAF dealer and service locations use the logo on exterior signs, workshop branding, reception areas and service communications.

Fleet and transport marketing

Fleet buyers

The DAF identity appears in brochures, vehicle specification materials, leasing communications and fleet sales presentations for commercial transport customers.

Digital product listings

Product teams

Marketplace, maintenance, telematics and parts platforms commonly display the DAF wordmark to identify manufacturer-specific truck records, service data or compatible parts.

Answers before you ship

Format, usage, attribution, and history notes for the DAF logo.

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