BRIEFS

GREENVILLE, SC (AP): Clemson University's automotive-engineering programme has received a US$1 million federal grant to fund research on building vehicles that are more reliable and environmentally friendly.

University President James Barker announced the grant Monday during his opening remarks at the Automotive Transatlantic Summit. The summit is being held at Clemson's International Center on Automotive Research in Greenville, which will house the centre.

Imtiaz Hague, director of ICAR's graduate programme says the US Department of Energy grant designates Clemson as a Center of Excellence for "sustainable vehicle systems."

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Dealers fear speaker ban

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP):Some Maine car dealers say a proposal by the Augusta City Council to ban outdoor speakers could cost them customers and jeopardise their sales staff's ability to earn a living.

This week the council is scheduled to consider a final vote on the proposal. But at a Thursday meeting some members wondered if the ban should go back to the Planning Board for additional review and discussion.

Charlie Shuman of Charlie's Motor Mall says he uses a paging system to make sure he can reach his staff promptly.

The Kennebec Journal says some neighbours of car dealerships complain that noise from outdoor speakers at car lots can be so loud it wakes them up and bothers them in their yards.

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Judge tosses Toyota case

SANTA ANA, California (AP): A federal judge in California has dismissed a case against Toyota Motor Corporation that was supposed to be the first to reach trial out of hundreds of sudden acceleration complaints filed in federal court.

US District Court Judge James V. Selna ruled Thursday that the court doesn't have jurisdiction because damages could not reach a US$50,000 threshold under the law.

He found the proper jurisdiction is instead Utah state court.

Selna had previously indicated he would allow the case to move forward in federal court. 

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Humvee hits a bump

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP): The northern Indiana-based company that makes Humvees for the military plans to lay off about 350 workers nationwide next month because of defence budget cuts and the drawdown of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, company officials said Thursday.

AM General's new production of Humvees for the US Army ended in December 2010, but the company is still doing other work for the Army and making the vehicles for other customers, including foreign countries and for Afghan troops under contracts with the US Department of Defense.

But the workload isn't enough to maintain current staffing levels, company officials said, noting that the drawdown of US troops in the Middle East means that fewer Humvees would be needed.