BMW is furthering its investment in America. You already know that the German automaker builds the X3, X5 and X6 at its Spartanburg County, South Carolina assembly plant. Now, BMW is adding to that complex by introducing two new programs and hiring 100 new employees. Workers at its facility in Greer will soon have access to a brand-new family health center operated by an independent health care provider. Use of the health center will be made available to existing employees, eligible retirees and family members. In addition to the health center, BMW will begin a program called BMW Scholars, which allows area technical school students to work part-time in the assembly plant. Accepted candidates will receive tuition assistance, book money and first-hand apprentice training with a major automotive manufacturer.Beyond the new programs, BMW is looking to bring 100 new team members on board to fill white colllar positions. These range from production managers and engineers to IT staff. The move to acquire 100 new employees is rather interesting after the negative attention from Teamsters when 100 distribution jobs were cut. Somehow, we don't see the union firing up a website to lay on applause for this one.

The car is one of the most recognizeable inventions of the modern era. Without cars there would be no suburbs, car trips, endless drop-offs and pick-ups most parents are all to familiar with. Here are some fun facts about cars and their colorful past.

• The first cars did not have steering wheels. Drivers steered with a lever.
• The New York City Police Department used bicycles to pursue speeding motorists in 1898.
• The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902.
• In 1916, 55 percent of the cars in the world were Model T Fords, a record that has never been beaten.
• The first gas gauge appeared in cars in 1922.
• In 1923, 173 new inventions by women for cars had been reported. Among these inventions were a carburetor and an electric engine starter.
• The first car radio was invented in 1929.
• Buick introduced the first electric turn signals in 1938.
• The Peanuts characters were first animated in 1957 for a Ford Fairlaine automobile commercial.
• Most American car horns beep in the key of F.
• The automobile is the most recycled consumer product in the world today.