Ford Motor Co. is offering a new incentive plan, including 0% financing and a job-loss assurance program, to try to jump-start slumping vehicle sales and boost consumer confidence.

The auto maker will offer 0% financing through its finance arm and will cover payments for up to 12 months on any new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle if customers lose their jobs. The offer will run through June 1.

Rival Chrysler LLC began offering 0% financing, along with rebates, employee pricing and discounts up to $6,000 in January as it looked to clear out dealers' inventories and boost sales. So far, the moves haven't seemed to help Chrysler as it struggles to stay afloat.

The Big Three-- Ford, Chrysler and General Motors Co. have been slammed by the recession. Chrysler and GM in particular are faltering, and President Barack Obama's administration said Monday that the two auto makers' plans don't show a "credible path to viability."

Ken Czubay, Ford's vice president of sales and marketing, said the company wanted to help rebuild faith in the marketplace as consumers remain anxious about the economy.

As consumer confidence has been falling, consumers have been cutting back their spending, and are particularly averse to buying big-ticket items such as cars and trucks. The tight credit markets also make it difficult for would-be buyers to get the financing they need to make a purchase.

Last week, market-research firm J.D. Power & Associates said retail new-vehicle sales continued to tumble in the first part of March and said the rest of the year is an open question. Auto makers are expected to report March sales Wednesday.