The biggest beneficiary in the auto industry after the gasoline price rising seems to be Toyota.
The recent trend which saw the Americans turn away from gas-guzzling SUVs, luxury cars and pick-up trucks in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars gave Toyota a much needed boost.

The Japanese multinational corporation reported a record number of sales over last month, which went up 14.1 per cent compared to the previous year for the company’s
highest monthly total ever.

Toyota Motor Corp. sold 269,023 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in May, topping its previous monthly record of 242,675 set in March.

With the gas prices rising above the $3 per gallon milestone nationwide, Toyota’s Prius hybrid (gas and electric), which gets an estimated 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) per gallon (4.5 liters) in combined city and highway driving, sold about 24,000 units, 185 percent more than last May.
Toyota also reported increased sales of other models such as Camry, Corolla and Yaris.

"As fuel prices and consumer confidence rose, the industry saw a move to passenger cars, with retail business posting sharp gains over a very challenging April," said Jim Lentz, Toyota's U.S. sales chief.

General Motors Corp. also benefited from the rising of gas prices. The company reported
that its light vehicle sales rose by almost  9.7 percent.
DaimlerChrysler AG's sales rose 3.9 percent, reflecting the strong demand for the new models of its Jeep brand.

Paul Ballew, GM’s sales analyst, said the industry is “wrestling with the mix shift that goes along with the run-up in gas prices.”
GM, the industry's top seller, said it sold 371,056 light vehicles in May.

Ford Motor Co. saw a decline of about 7 percent in sales, its seventh consecutive monthly sales decline, surrendering the No. 2 spot in the U.S. market to Toyota.

'' We're going to continue to see Ford struggle as they go through their transition period,'' said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with Global Insight Inc. '' We're going to continue to see Toyota pushing forward.''