DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. said yesterday it plans to get about $18 billion in financing to help fund its restructuring and make up for anticipated losses in its automotive operations over the next two years.The second largest US automaker also said the financing — with its domestic plants and other automotive assets used as collateral — will help protect against a recession or other unanticipated events.

Analysts said it makes the possibility of Ford selling its finance arm less likely but could support bigger restructuring efforts. The announcement prompted downgrades on Ford’s debt rating.

Ford said a new five-year senior secured revolving credit facility of about $8 billion is intended to replace Ford’s existing unsecured credit facilities of $6.3 billion. A senior secured term loan will total about $7 billion, and unsecured capital market transactions will total about $3 billion.