Ford says that it has enough cash on hand to not need a bailout from the federal government as GM and Chrysler have said they do, but it has urged lawmakers to bail out its two Detroit-based American competitors and to bail out the auto supply industry.

Ford urged the federal government to take a more proactive role in “incentivizing” new car sales, moves other countries have already done (France, for example, is paying cash to consumers who trade in old cars for new ones, and Brazil has lifted taxes on new vehicles).

What is Ford’s reasoning in asking for money for its competitors?

“It certainly helps Ford indirectly if the consumer can get some help and suppliers can get some help and, to some extent, it helps Ford if the industry as a whole starts doing better. It’s an interesting strategy, because we’re not 100 percent convinced that they won’t need money at some point in time.” –Auto analyst Rebecca Lindland of IHS Global Insight

Ford cut 1,200 jobs at Ford Credit and negotiated an end to the United Auto Workers’ “Jobs Bank” program, which provided laid-off workers whose plants have closed with 90% of their previous salary for life. The move affected 1,500 union workers. GM and Chrysler, which were mandated by the federal government as part of their bailout conditions to seek significant concessions from UAW (including the end of the Jobs Bank program), had already ended their own such programs. Ford, while not bound by the federal bailout terms like GM and Chrysler, said it still hopes to gain the same concessions from the UAW.