DAC is a Romanian commercial vehicle brand with an industrial heritage spanning over 50 years, known for manufacturing trucks, buses, and specialty vehicles in Brașov. Launched in the 1970s as part of the national truck industry, the brand has continuously evolved, being used for a wide range of vehicles intended for civilian transport, industrial applications, and special uses, including in the military and mining sectors.

Over time, DAC has distinguished itself through its robust construction and ability to adapt to varied requirements, ranging from distribution trucks and tractor heads to high-capacity dump trucks, port tractors, buses, and trolleybuses.

The DAC brand represents a continuation of Romania’s industrial tradition in the commercial vehicle sector, recognized for its reliability and versatility. The name evokes Romania’s historical roots, inspired by the Dacian civilization and the ancient name of the region—Dacia.

History

Brasov Truck Factory (Întreprinderea Autocamioane Brașov) was established after World War II on the foundation of the old ROMLOC automotive factory built in 1921. In the spirit of the communist days, the industrial plant was named Steagul Roșu (The Red Flag). As of 2000, 750,000 trucks had been produced.

DAC trucks share the same construction platforms with the company's other brand - Roman - but it was not part of the 1971 venture between the then-West German company MAN and the Romanian government.

In the early 1980s, the company developed its own diesel engines with outputs of 240, 280, and 320 hp. These engines, marked with the additional letter "R" for Romanian, signified a step beyond the original license agreement. They were used in DAC trucks, ranging from models 16.240 to 32.280.

DAC vehicles are equipped with standardized cabins of in-house production. These cabins are available in three versions: Normal, Medium, and Double Size. The company also manufactures front axles, drive axles, frames, wheels, bodies, and other components.

thumb|DAC 117UD articulated bus in Tg. Jiu

In 1984, following the expiration of the licensing agreement with MAN, the Roman range was rebranded as DAC. By 1990, the Brasov plant was restructured into the joint-stock company “Roman S.A.” as part of a government decision. However, the plant lost access to major markets and began outfitting older chassis with imported components, primarily diesel engines that complied with newer environmental standards. Despite these challenges, DAC trucks continued production for several years after 1990, including a special version designed with updated features for a local fuel company.

CN Series

thumb|DAC 15.240 DFAEG

The CN series was an in house development of Autocamioane Brașov available since 1977. The CN is available with 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 wheel configurations and 3 to 10 ton cargo capacity. The CN Series feature a rectangular shaped all-metal cab with horizontally grooved doors and side panels, flat front end and a sloping hinged windshield. Vehicles are equipped with license built MAN D2156 6-cylinder diesel engines and a 5- or 6 -speed transmission, 2-speed transfer case, wheel planetary gear drives, wheels with lockable differentials, dual airbrakes, power steering and a 24-volt electrical devices.

In addition to the DAC 665T (6x6) truck, the factory also produced a “shortened” version, the DAC 444T (4x4), with an off-road payload capacity of 2.5 tons.

DAC 665

One of the most long living trucks produced under the DAC brand is 665 series, still in use in Romanian, Georgian and Croatian armies.

thumb|DAC 665T - LAROM command center

The DAC 665 is a family of military trucks designed for traction and transport, manufactured by the Autocamioane Brașov Plant in the 1980s. It was produced in multiple versions and exported to Hungary, Egypt, Iraq, and Cuba.

In the Romanian Army, the DAC 665T has been and continues to be used as a transport vehicle, an artillery tractor, and a chassis for mounting specialized superstructures. The DAC 665T model impressed with the technical features of its traction system. Built with three axles, two of which were rear axles, the vehicle, nicknamed “the little tank,” had full all-wheel drive (eight powered wheels). Equipped with an AK 6-80 gearbox with a reducer, the DAC 665T is considered one of the most successful products of the Brașov plant from its inception to the present day.thumb|DAC 665T in the background of Sino-Romanian joint training Friendship Action 2009

The DAC 665G variant was used to transport pontoons from the bridge parks of the Romanian Army. Both versions featured full 6×6 all-wheel drive. The chassis of these trucks served as the foundation for several specialized vehicles.

DAC 120 DE (1988–1990)

The DAC 120 DE was a high-capacity mining truck designed by the ICPAT Institute in Brașov and produced between 1988 and 1990. It had diesel-electric propulsion: a 65-liter diesel engine powered two electric motors mounted on the rear axle, each with 520 hp.

Specifications:

thumb|DAC 120DE mining truck

  • Weight: 90Ton
  • Load capacity: 120Ton
  • Dimensions: 10m long, 5.4m high
  • Wheels with a diameter of 3.2m
  • Maximum speed: 55 km/h loaded, 70 km/h empty
  • Range: up to one week of work (2 × 1600 L tanks)
  • Approximately 20 units were produced. Five were exported to Australia, the rest were used in Romania at Roșia Poieni, Mahmudia, and in the construction of the Danube–Black Sea Canal.

Electric rebirth of the brand (2025-present)

After nearly two decades of inactivity, the DAC brand was relaunched in 2025 by Autovehicule DAC S.A., under the leadership of entrepreneur Sergiu Bolocan, in the form of electric vehicles.

Portfolio and segments

The initial portfolio includes ten models divided into three segments:

  1. thumb|New DAC Aerobus 14.100 alongside DAC19.215Passenger transport: buses, electric minibuses, and trolleybuses with autonomy for urban and school transport.
  2. Mining vehicles: high-capacity electric dump trucks and port tractors.
  3. Urban and sanitation vehicles: 7.5 and 18-ton electric trucks.

Autovehicule DAC S.A. has a production hall within the ROMAN platform in Brașov. CKD kits will be assembled at this location: the cab will come assembled, and the rest of the components—the chassis, axles, springs, and power electronics—will be delivered separately. Initially, electric trucks intended for urban traffic are assembled on a bench, and as sales scale up, production will move to an assembly line.

Technology and innovations

DAC electric vehicles use LFP batteries and simple asynchronous motors with air and liquid cooling for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs. The 18-ton urban trucks have a symmetrical rear drive axle with two independent motors, one on each wheel.

The brand has been reinterpreted as "Drive Auto Clean," retaining its historic initials and connection to Romanian tradition. The relaunch combines historical values—robustness, simplicity, durability—with modern electric mobility technologies.

Goals and plans

thumb|Electric mining truck DAC90TEF.OH

Autovehicule DAC S.A. aims to sell over 30,000 electric vehicles by 2035, surpassing the 1987 record set by the Autocamioane Brașov factory. The priority is the urban and public transport segment, but the company is also targeting industrial and mining vehicles, where electrification reduces operating costs and environmental impact.

The company has a network of national service centers and plans to expand into new regions, providing maintenance for all DAC models.

Models

  • DAC 120 DE - diesel-electric 120T mining dump truck
  • DAC 6135 - light duty truck
  • DAC 665 - military off-road truck

<gallery>

File:DAC 6135 Tg Mures.jpg|DAC 6135 (SR-DAC) based on SR-113 Bucegi

File:DAC 6Turbo truck, Bucharest Airport, 1989.JPEG|DAC 6 Turbo truck, Bucharest-Otopeni Airport, 1989

File:APR-40-beyt-hatotchan-2.jpg|DAC 665T with APRA-40, a Romanian variant of the BM-21 Grad.

File:Kolozsvari trolibusz DAC.jpg|A Rocar bodied DAC trolley bus

File:GJ-02-YLW-9Mai-Artego-005.jpg|DAC 117UD articulated city bus

File:Тролейбус DAC-Чавдар.jpg|DAC-Chavdar 117 ET trolleybus in Bulgaria

File:DAC 6135 pe roți de tren.jpg|DAC 6135 transformed into railcar

File:191st Infantry Battalion DAC-444T truck.jpg|DAC-444T truck during exercise Combined Resolve V

File:Troleibuz DAC 217E.jpg|DAC 217E trolleybus in Kyiv, Ukraine

File:New DAC Aerobus 14.100 production.jpg|New DAC Aerobus 14.100EVA production

File:Electric city bus DAC 4085.60UE.jpg|Electric city bus DAC 4085.60ULFE

File:DAC Aerobus 14.100EVA electric apron bus.jpg|DAC Aerobus 14.100EVA electric apron bus in operation at Cluj "Avram Iancu" International Airport, Romania

File:DAC 90TEF.OH electric mining truck.jpg|DAC 90TEF.OH electric mining truck

File:DAC Derzis 18.360.jpg|DAC Derzis 18.360 electric chassis

</gallery>

See also

  • Roman (vehicle manufacturer)
  • Rocar DAC

References

  • DAC information at Truck Planet
  • Scroll thru pages for DAC info