US carmaker General Motors has said 7,500 union workers have accepted its offer of incentives to leave the firm.
All of the hourly members of the United Auto Workers union working for GM have been offered a voucher for a new car and $20,000 in cash to leave.
GM, which has received at least $13bn (£9bn) in US government loans, is trying to cut its workforce to match lower car sales as the recession bites.
GM shares closed 14% higher in New York following the announcement.
Most of the workers will leave by April, the carmaker said.
"The special attrition programme, along with the many difficult but necessary actions we have taken in recent months will help ensure the long-term viability and future success of General Motors," Gary Cowger, vice president for global manufacturing and labour relations.
Earlier this month, GM said it would not need the $2bn of funding it had previously requested for March from the government because of an acceleration of its efforts to cut costs.
In December the company warned it could run out of cash in a matter of weeks if money were not made available.
GM said the $2bn requested for March would not be needed "at this time", but did not say if the carmaker would cancel or modify its request for $16.6bn in aid asked for last month.
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