The Renault Trafic E-Tech has been named the International Van of the Year 2027, securing one of the most prestigious awards in the European commercial vehicle industry.
Renault’s latest electric van was selected unanimously by the 26-strong International Van of the Year jury, which is made up of specialist commercial vehicle journalists from across Europe and international markets.
The award represents the sixth International Van of the Year victory for Renault, with the latest Trafic following previous wins for the Renault Master and Kangoo.
The Stellantis ProOne Compact Van finished as runner-up, while the Farizon V7E and latest Volkswagen Caddy Cargo shared third place. The result follows the earlier announcement of the International Van of the Year 2027 shortlist, which highlighted the growing range of new commercial vehicles competing for recognition across the European market. The Hyundai Staria Electric and Maxus Deliver 7 were also among the shortlisted models.
Renault Trafic E-Tech Takes Top Industry Award
The latest Renault Trafic E-Tech represents a major change for Renault’s mid-sized van range, moving the model towards a new generation of electric commercial vehicles built around software, connectivity and rapid charging technology.
The fourth-generation Trafic E-Tech was developed through the Flexis project, which originally brought together Renault Group and Volvo Group to develop a new generation of electric commercial vehicles.
The project initially produced three different vehicle concepts, including the Trafic E-Tech, a chassis-based model and the walk-through Estafette van.
Renault subsequently took full control of the Flexis business and incorporated its vehicles and technology into the Renault Vans operation.
The new Trafic E-Tech impressed the International Van of the Year jury with its combination of electric power, advanced vehicle architecture and technology designed around the requirements of modern commercial fleets.
800V Architecture And Rapid Charging
One of the key features separating the new Trafic E-Tech from many existing electric vans is its 800-volt electrical architecture.
The system is designed to support significantly faster charging, helping businesses reduce the amount of time their vehicles spend connected to charging infrastructure.
The Trafic E-Tech is also built around a new skateboard-style platform and has been developed as a software-defined vehicle, allowing functions and capabilities to be controlled and updated through software rather than relying entirely on conventional hardware changes.
For commercial operators, this could provide greater flexibility over the lifetime of the vehicle, while also allowing Renault to introduce new features and improvements as the van develops.
The combination of rapid charging and electric power is particularly important as businesses increasingly consider how electric vans can be integrated into everyday fleet operations, making EV charging for businesses an increasingly important part of fleet planning.
Sixth International Van Of The Year Award For Renault
The 2027 award is the sixth time Renault has taken the International Van of the Year title.
The manufacturer previously won with the Renault Master in 1998 and 2025, while the Kangoo secured the award in 2012 and 2022.
The latest victory is also particularly significant for the Trafic nameplate, coming 25 years after the previous-generation Trafic won the award in 2002.
Jarlath Sweeney, chairman of the International Van of the Year jury, said the award recognises vehicles that make a contribution to efficiency, safety, environmental performance and the sustainable transportation of goods.
According to the jury, the new Trafic E-Tech demonstrated these qualities strongly enough to secure the unanimous decision.
A Major New Electric Van For Renault
The International Van of the Year award provides further recognition of Renault’s push to strengthen its position in the growing electric LCV market.
The Trafic is already an established name in the mid-sized van sector, but the E-Tech version introduces a substantially different approach. Renault’s plans for the new Trafic E-Tech form part of a wider expansion of its LCV range, combining the electric van with new technology and a broader product strategy.
The growing number of electric commercial vehicles available to UK businesses means operators now have considerably more choice when considering alternatives to conventional diesel vans.
There is also a much wider selection of electric vans across different sizes and applications, with manufacturers continuing to expand their ranges.
For businesses considering the move away from diesel, the arrival of more advanced electric vans such as the Trafic E-Tech gives fleet operators greater choice across different applications and operating requirements.
Businesses interested in the latest electric commercial vehicles can also consider electric van leasing, with the Trafic E-Tech available as a leasing option for UK businesses.
The current CVC range includes the Renault Trafic E-Tech LWB, giving operators another option when assessing the latest generation of electric medium vans.
The Trafic E-Tech’s International Van of the Year success underlines how quickly electric commercial vehicle technology is developing, with manufacturers increasingly competing on more than simply battery range. Charging speed, efficiency, practicality, software, operating costs and the ability to support different business applications are all becoming increasingly important considerations for modern fleets.
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