NORTHGATE, which runs the UK's largest light commercial rental fleet, has signed its biggest deal with Mercedes-Benz for Sprinter CDI vans worth £56.8 million at showroom prices, to supply demand created by the growth of internet shopping. The deal, which follows the purchase of about 2,000 Sprinter vans last year, gives Northgate the largest Sprinter rental fleet in the country.

Northgate's total fleet now stands at 32,000 vehicles, with about 15% Mercedes-Benz product. Ford provides the rest and is expected to remain the supplier of the majority of the company's vehicles. Ford's Transit and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are Britain's two top-selling panel vans and were relaunched in March. Northgate expects to increase its network from 40 sites to 100 in the future and managing director Steve Smith said: 'The vans will mainly be used by distribution companies as e-commerce takes off to get products to customers.'