AUTOGLASS is buying 300 Ford vans this year and 350 in 1998 both as replacements and as part of a plan to expand the company's fleet by 10%. The company currently operates 600 Courier and 400 short wheelbase Transit 80 vans which operate from 210 locations in the UK and Eire.

The vans will clock up 70-80,000 miles over their three years of service. Autoglass has run Ford vans since its inception and the new deal has been won on the strength of vehicle reliability, Ford's widespread dealer network, recent vehicle improvements and low vehicle running costs.