Final Day At Auto Show Ends With Better Than Expected Numbers

DETROIT (WWJ) - After a glittery and crowded nine day run, the Detroit auto show closes with better than expected numbers.

Sunday's attendance at the North American International Auto Show of 101,141 topped last year's final day numbers of 98,106, bringing total attendance of the 2012 show to 770,932, the highest since 2005.

Spokesman Marc Harlow says there was almost 771,000 paid visitors to the auto show at Cobo Center.

And Harlow says a lot of those people will actually go out and buy a new vehicle in the near future:

"I believe the figure is about 40% that actually intend to buy a new automoble in the next 30-60 days," said Harlow.

Harlow says this year's attendance was about 35,000 more than last year.

The vice-president of the Detroit Auto Dealer's Association, Scott LaRiche, on what's made this year's auto show a success.

"They have a parade of cars during the day which is really neat - some celebraties have been in there, Miss Michigan is in there, they have the (Detroit) Tigers - so that creates a lot of excitment and I think the brightness - it's a little like Vegas right here in Detroit on the auto show floor," said LaRiche.

LaRiche, speaking live on WWJ, says a lot of people are also in the market for a new vehicle:

"There are a lot of people in the market right now, with the average age of the vehicles being almost 11 years old. A lot of people are interested - they're in the market, they want to see what's available so they can go buy a car. Now is a great time because all the manufacturers in Michigan have great deals," said LaRiche.

See more on the 2012 NAIAS by clicking on here.