Major U.S. automakers and industry trade associations spent $62.6 million on lobbying in 2007, compared with $50.3 million in 2006, according to a Free Press analysis of federal disclosure forms. The energy bills and the Bush administration’s efforts to craft new fuel rules dominated their spending.

GM’s total, its highest ever, likely places it among the top 10 spenders for 2007. Of the six top U.S. automakers, five spent more in 2007 than 2006. Ford’s spending declined from $9.1 million in 2006 to $7.1 million in 2007.

While Chrysler LLC and Daimler spent about $1 million more in 2007 than they did as a combined company in 2006, Cerberus, which owns 80.1 percent of Chrysler, poured $3 million into lobbying last year.

Among foreign automakers, Nissan Motor Co. boosted its spending by $1.9 million to $3.9 million, while Toyota and Honda Motor Co. posted more modest spending increases.