DETROIT, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Ford Motor on Tuesday declared first-quarter regular and supplemental dividends of 15 cents and 18 cents per share, making it the second Detroit automaker to focus on returning cash to shareholders.

Peer General Motors last week delivered an optimistic outlook for 2024, and Chief Executive Mary Barra signaled shareholders will get more of the cash spinning from sales of GM's combustion trucks and SUVs through share buybacks.

Cost cuts and demand for crossover SUVs and pickup trucks helped automakers offset inflationary headwinds and early signs of EV demand cooling.

Consumers opted for hybrid vehicles and family SUVs instead of EVs for convenience and relative ease in terms of maintenance.

In response, Ford and GM, which were putting together ambitious EV plans, have begun leaning towards their higher-margin hybrid and gas-powered models. (Reporting By Joe White and Nathan Gomes; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)