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Car buyers could have customised cars delivered in three days thanks to a Pounds 1.5 million project just launched by the universities of Cardiff and Bath and leading car makers and associations.

The "3DayCar" involves all parts of the car industry from raw material suppliers to dealers. Malcolm Harbour, project director based at research consultants International Car Distribution Programme, said: "Our aim is to empower customers to drive the whole production process."

According to ICDP, about Pounds 3 billion a year could be saved by Europe's leading car makers. Customers in turn would benefit from "significant savings".

Working with car makers such as Volkswagen, Peugeot, Ford and Nissan and suppliers including GKN, researchers will identify new product and production technologies and marketing and distribution methods. They will also examine environmental benefits, for instance the ability to rebuild and recycle products.