According to the details shared by the officials of the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the attendance at the show this time round topped that for the last year event.

The statistics put forth by the officials reveal that while 750,000 people attended the auto show this year, making it the show with the highest attendance since 2005. The final day, Sunday, alone witnessed as many as 101,141 people in attendance at Cobo Center.

While the total attendance at the show, including that at the charity preview and industry preview, has been rising since 2009, the show this time witnessed the highest opening day in the last five years --- with the public days kicking off on January 14 with around 92,106 people contributing to the opening-day figures.

In the opinion of the organizers of the auto show, the high turnout at the event serves as an upbeat indication of a renewed sense of optimism in the auto industry.

Noting that the southeast Michigan area is “still very much in love with the automobile,” the event’s chairman Bill Perkins said that, with the auto industry being in a much better place at present than it was five years back, people wanted to feel good again about the industry. Perkins further added: “As a result, this year's show was a 'must-see' event, as the attendance numbers indicate.”