PARCEL delivery firm Business Express has placed orders for a further 500 Pilot vans with British commercial vehicle specialist LDV. The latest order - worth some £6 million at showroom prices - will take the total number of vehicles supplied to Business Express to 1,000 over the past 12 months. The Littlewoods subsidiary opted for the 2.6t Pilots after a three-month evaluation period involving products from a number of rival manufacturers.

Business Express fleet manager Tony Shaw said fuel economy of more than 25mpg - almost half a mile per gallon ahead of its nearest competitor, a huge saving over a year with a 2,000-vehicle fleet - was crucial to LDV clinching the deal. The vehicles have power steering, a payload of 1,150kg, factory-fitted sliding driver's doors and are delivered with Business Express's award-winning reflective livery.