Detroit auto show 2014 attendance highest since 2003

Attendance to the 2014 North American International Auto Show was the best in more than 10 years, according to officials. Sunday’s total of 102,153 people brought overall attendance to the show, which ended yesterday, to 803,451. The last time the show broke 800,000 was in 2003 when it reached 838,066.

DETROIT, MI- Attendance to the 2014 North American International Auto Show was the best in more than 10 years, according to officials.

Sunday’s total of 102,153 people brought overall attendance to the show, which ended yesterday, to 803,451. The last time the show broke 800,000 was in 2003 when it topped 838,000.

This year’s NAIAS featured about 550 vehicles displayed on about $200 million worth of sets. Some of this year’s most popular vehicles included the 2015 Ford F-150, 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 2015 Honda Fit, 2015 Chrysler 200 and a host of concepts.

NAIAS 2014 chairman Bob Shuman said this year – the 25th anniversary of the event as an international auto show– was a “special one.”

"The industry is healthy, the products and technology are spectacular, and confidence is high,” he said in a statement. “It would be difficult to find a more exciting or more important two weeks than what we just experienced in the auto industry here on Detroit's world stage."

The attendance figures also exclude Press Preview, which attracted 5,169 journalists from 60 countries and 39 states for 50 debuts from the automakers.

As the U.S. auto industry has continued to rebound from the recession over the past five years, so has the auto show. This year's attendance is more than 150,000 people more than the show in 2009. 

“We've worked hard to earn and maintain their confidence and trust, and year-after-year, we support the promise of the original NAIAS 'organizers' who said 25 years ago, 'you bring the cars, and we'll bring the media.' I think it's safe to say," said NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts. "We kept our promise."

The 2014 Charity Preview featuring musician Sheryl Crow was also one for the ages. The one-night event attracted 13,826 people to help raise $4.8 million for children's charities. And "Studio 25," the first-ever Charity Preview afterglow event at Cobo Center's new Grand Riverview Ballroom, was a sellout at 2,250 tickets.

The NAIAS is considered one of the top global automotive events in the world and of huge importance to Metro Detroit. Since its introduction 25 years ago, officials estimate the show has had a $9.7 billion economic impact on the region. This year is expected to have a $365 million impact.

Here’s a look at attendance at the show since 2007 (including Industry and Charity preview days):

2007- 705,226

2008- 702,814

2009- 650,517

2010- 714,137

2011- 735,370

2012- 770,932

2013- 795,416

2014- 803,451