Ford Motor Co. announced a new U.S. incentives plan on May 2 to help boost slowing sales of its cars and trucks, according to a Reuters report.

The new plan from Ford, which, unlike its crosstown competitors, saw sales fall in April, includes cash-back rebates ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 on most 2002 Ford-brand vehicles.

Exceptions include the Escape compact sport utility, which Ford is promoting with a cash-back offer of $500, and the slower-selling Windstar minivan, which buyers can now snap up with a $3,000 cash rebate.

The only cars and trucks with the Ford nameplate still sold with no incentives are the recently launched Thunderbird sedan and SVT products -- a line of special high-performance vehicles.

Following General Motors Corp., which unveiled a new sales incentives plan on April 30, Ford is largely abandoning the zero percent financing loans it began offering last fall, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

But Ford is offering financing rates as low as 0.9 percent on 36-month loans for some vehicles -- including the Explorer SUV -- along with $1,000 in cash. Ford's 0.9 percent financing rate also applies to a limited number of 48-month loans.

The lowest rate from GM, in its latest incentives plan, is 1.9 percent on 36-month loans. But GM's offer of up to $3,000 in cash rebates applies to a broader array of vehicles than Ford's.

The new promotions from Ford and GM run through July 1.

Sales incentives on new cars and trucks have eased since the post-Sept. 11 attack levels in the fourth quarter last year.

But they remain historically high, and automakers readily admit that cash rebates and cheap loans have been a driving force between higher-than-expected U.S. vehicle sales since late last year. Though expensive, the incentives cost less than cutting production and closing plants would under North American labor contracts with Detroit's Big Three automakers.

Ford said its sales fell 8 percent in April, continuing a deep slump that has dogged the automaker all year. It blamed the drop on a steep slide in sales to fleet customers.

Ford, which industry analysts say is losing market share due to a dearth of exciting new vehicles to lure customers into its showrooms, is struggling to implement a turnaround plan after a $5.45 billion loss last year.