THE Ford Transit is transporting the AA into the windscreen replacement market.

Evidence of the deal is to be seen in the number of yellow Transits on transporters heading up the M3 motorway.

Continuing a long tradition and thousands of vehicles linking the two companies, Ford’s Southampton plant has handed over 56 Ford Transit 300 short-wheelbase vans, all destined for the AA AutoWindshields fleet.

The vans were inspected at Southampton by AA chief engineer Steve Ives, who said: “We were keen to inspect the Transits off the line and we were delighted to find them in top condition and ready to be signed off.

“They are all on their way to be fitted with the necessary equipment and livery and will soon be an integral part of the AA AutoWindshields fleet.”

Thomas Fischer, Ford’s Southampton plant manager, said: “Southampton plant puts a lot of effort into the quality of the Ford Transit vehicles we build here and we are pleased that this, together with Transit’s proven dependability and low whole life cost, has resulted in the AA placing further orders with Ford.”

The AA bought Auto-Windshields last year and is undertaking a rapid expansion of the company and its fleet. The vans are part of an order for 247 Ford Transit vans – worth around £750,000 – placed by the AA this year.

Most of the vans will be used on roadside repair and recovery duties.

Steve Clary, director of commercial vehicles for of Britain, said: “The AA has chosen Ford both to meet existing customer needs and to expand their business, which endorses the reputation of the Ford Transit – a van that reliably gets the job done.”