The History of the Iveco Daily: from 1978 to the Present Day
L'The Iveco Daily isn't just a van: it's an icon of European commercial transport. Since its debut in 1978, it has gone through seven generations, won countless awards and earned the trust of millions of professionals across Europe. This is its story, a journey of continuous innovation spanning almost half a century.
The Origins: The Birth of Iveco (1975)
To understand the birth of the Daily, we need to take a step back. In 1975, IVECO (Industrial Vehicles Corporation) was born from the merger of five historic European commercial vehicle manufacturers - FIAT Veicoli Industriali, OM, Lancia Veicoli Speciali, Unic and Magirus-Deutz. The aim was to create a European champion of road transport.
Among the new group's first projects was an innovative light commercial vehicle capable of competing with the best German and French products. And so the Daily project was born.
Generation 1: The Original Daily (1978-1990)
The first Iveco Daily was unveiled in 1978 and was an immediate success. Available as a panel van, dropside, chassis cab and minibus, it offered a winning combination of toughness, versatility and low running costs.
Key features:
- Naturally aspirated 2.4 and 2.5 litre diesel engines (45-72 hp)
- Payload from 3,5 to 5,0 tonnes
- Rear-wheel drive with rigid axle
- Functional, robust design, built to last
The Daily quickly established itself as the favourite vehicle of Italian tradespeople and gradually won over European markets. Its reputation for being indestructible became legendary.
Generation 2: The TurboDaily (1990-2000)
In 1990 the second generation arrived, named the TurboDaily, introducing the turbocharger and a completely redesigned look.
The main innovations:
- 2.5 and 2.8 litre turbodiesel engines (up to 146 hp)
- Redesigned cab, roomier and more comfortable
- ABS available as an option
- Range extended up to 6,5 tonnes
The TurboDaily quickly became the best-selling commercial vehicle in Italy and one of the most popular in Europe. The long-wheelbase 35-10 version became an icon of urban transport.
Generation 3: The New Millennium (2000-2006)
With the arrival of the new millennium, IVECO introduced a completely redesigned Daily. It was an impressive generational leap.
- New 2.3 HPI engine with common rail direct injection
- Uprated 2.8 HPT engine
- All-new cab, modern and practical
- Engines compliant with Euro 3
- Driving comfort comparable to a car
The 2.3 HPI engine became the heart of the Daily for the generations that followed, earning a reputation for exceptional reliability.
Generation 4: Maturity and Technology (2006-2011)
The fourth generation took the Daily to a new level of sophistication:
- New front grille and restyled exterior design
- Agile robotised gearbox (a first in its class)
- ESP as standard on many versions
- Euro 4 and later Euro 5 engines
- FAP diesel particulate filter
- Capacity extended up to 7,0 tonnes
It was in this generation that the Daily consolidated its position as the most versatile commercial vehicle on the market, with over 7.000 possible configurations.
Generation 5: The Chassis Revolution (2011-2014)
In 2011, IVECO made a bold choice: it redesigned the Daily from scratch, including the chassis.
- New lighter and stiffer platform
- Independent front suspension (a first in its class)
- Even more efficient Multijet2 engines
- EcoSwitch to reduce fuel consumption
- Dashboard with digital display
The new chassis delivers a record load volume in its class and unprecedented driving comfort for a commercial vehicle.
Generation 6: Connectivity and Awards (2014-2019)
In 2014, the new Daily won the prestigious “International Van of the Year 2015” award. It is the recognition of an exceptional vehicle:
- Daily Business UP platform for fleet management
- Hi-Matic 8-speed automatic gearbox (the first in its class)
- ADAS driver assistance systems
- CNG natural gas version (Natural Power)
- Advanced connectivity and integrated telematics
- Euro 6 engines
With this generation, the Daily becomes not just a work vehicle but a true connected mobile office.
Generation 7: The Future Is Electric (2019-present)
The latest generation of the Daily looks to the future with the electric revolution:
- eDaily: the fully electric version with a range of up to 400 km
- Level 2 ADAS for semi-autonomous driving
- Hi-Connect system for complete digital management
- Fully digital dashboard
- Optimised Euro 6D-Final diesel engines
- CNG version with extended range
L'eDaily, unveiled in 2023, represents the future of zero-emission commercial transport, while retaining the load capacity and versatility that made the Daily famous.
The Daily in Numbers
- 1978: year of launch
- 7 generations produced
- 3,5 million+ units sold worldwide
- 7.000+ possible configurations
- 3 international “Van of the Year” awards
- 110+ countries where it is sold
- 2023: launch of the electric eDaily
Your Daily Deserves the Best Parts
Whatever the generation of your Iveco Daily, at Specialista Daily you'll find the right parts to keep it in perfect shape. From the first Daily of 1978 to the latest 2024 model, our catalogue covers every generation with genuine parts and quality aftermarket parts.
Browse our catalogue by model or contact us to find the part you're looking for.
