Seeing that the auto industry isn’t showing any sign of improvement, nearly 7,500 workers have opted to grab early retirement options, leaving the big three auto companies (Chrysler, General Motors and Ford), in a move that seems to be better for their end.

Since 2006 General Motors Corporation (GM) (Detroit, Michigan) has made early retirement and buyout offers to its workers three times, with more than 60,000 employees accepting. Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan) and Chrysler LLC (Auburn Hills, Michigan) have also made similar offers during this time period.

During the latest round of buyout and early retirement offers at GM however, the majority of the employees who have accepted, 7,500 to be exact, will take early retirement rather than the buyout.

(Source) Industrial Info

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Parents need not worry about their teenagers driving carelessly. Thanks to this new feature by Ford, parents can now program cars to ensure their kids are obeying the law when on the road. Ford is hoping its latest invention will make sure teens listen. It’s called the My-Key system.

“It’s to help parents encourage their teen drivers to drive safer, to drive more fuel efficient and to encourage them to use their seat belt,” says Jim Tobin of Ford Motor Company.

Most cars on the road have some sort of technology to let you know when your seat belt isn’t on. But with the MyKey technology, it includes something a little bit extra. Not only will teens get an error message in the dashboard but their music will also be silenced. The music won’t come back on and the error message won’t go away until they buckle up their safety belt.

In August, MyKey will be available on all new 2010 Ford Focus models. Ford says it will eventually be standard on all of its cars and trucks.

(Source) Rochester

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