Leyland Trucks is a medium- and heavy-dutytruck manufacturer based inLeyland,Lancashire, United Kingdom. It can trace its origins back to the originalLeyland Motors, which was founded in 1896, and subsequently evolved intoBritish Leyland. After British Leyland became theRover Group in 1986, the truck business was spun off and merged withDAF Trucks to formDAF NV, which operated asLeyland DAF in the UK.
After DAF NV was placed in administration in 1993, Leyland DAF was purchased in amanagement buyout and rebranded Leyland Trucks. It has been a subsidiary ofPaccar since 1998.
DAF LF designed and built by Leyland TrucksDAF XF built by Leyland TrucksThe first truck built at Leyland, 1896
Leyland Trucks' origins were inLeyland Motors, which became part of theBritish Leyland (BLMC) conglomerate in 1968. Upon the restructuring of BL's successor company,Rover Group, the truck-making division was divested by way of a merger withDAF Trucks in 1987 to formLeyland DAF, under the ownership ofDAF NV.[1] WhenDAF NV was placed in administration in February 1993, Leyland Trucks emerged as an independent company.
1896 – TheLancashire Steam Motor Company (LSMC) is formed by James Sumner at the Herbert Street workshops with twenty employees. Henry Spurrier financed the development of a 30cwt steam van, which proved to be successful.[2][3]
1907 –T Coulthard and Co, an engineering firm inPreston, was taken over by LSMC and the combined company namedLeyland Motors Limited.[3]
1968 –Leyland Motor Corporation andBritish Motor Holdings merge to form theBritish Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), which was now the fifth-largest vehicle producer in the world. BMH also ownedGuy at that time; thus, BLMC owned and produced Leyland, Albion, Scammell, AEC, Thornycroft, and Guy lorries by the end of the decade.
1972 – BLMC discontinue use of the Albion marque.
1975 – BLMC isnationalised by the government in response to the Group's severe financial problems. The corporation becomesBritish Leyland, with Leyland commercials becoming part of the autonomous Truck and Bus Division.
1977 – BLMC discontinue use of the AEC marque.
1978 – Leyland Vehicles Limited becomes the new name for the division.
1979 – Production starts during September at the all-new Leyland Assembly Plant, the first build being aLeyland Leopard bus chassis.
1981 – LVL splits into three companies: Leyland Trucks,Leyland Bus and Leyland Parts.
1982 – Leyland ceases production of Guy lorries.
1986 – Parent company British Leyland is renamed theRover Group; the new company begins divesting its non-car manufacturing-related businesses.
2000 – Production of allFoden product transfers to the Leyland Assembly Plant.
2005 – Leyland Trucks starts painting truck chassis robotically on the moving conveyor, a first in the industry.
2006 – Leyland Trucks stops production of Foden trucks, following the decision to retire the brand Foden.[7]
2007, in another industry-leading move, Leyland Trucks starts production of the complete bodied truck. Bodies are built on the production line, under the same quality controls, and fitted directly to its chassis prior to delivery to the customer.
2008, on 17 April, Leyland Trucks produced its 300,000th truck. Mark Armstrong Transport took delivery of the DAF XF 105 direct from the assembly line.[8]
2008 – Leyland Trucks built a record 24,700 trucks at the assembly facility (beating the previous record of 2007 of 17,500), supporting DAF's leading market share of the United Kingdom of 27.3%.
2021 - Leyland Trucks begins production of the new generation DAF model range.
DAF LF – Designed, developed and assembled at Leyland Trucks.[9]
DAF CF – All CF65 2-axle rigids, and allright-hand-drive (RHD) versions of the CF75 and CF85 are assembled at Leyland Trucks.[9]
RHD DAF CF in New Zealand. Same cab as Foden Alpha, same chassis as Kenworth T401, same drivetrain as Kenworth T410. Paccar MX13 engine, Eaton-Fuller Road Ranger gearbox and Meritor diffs.
DAF XF – All RHD versions are assembled at Leyland Trucks.[9]
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