Geneva International Motor Show cancelled again

ORGANISERS of next year’s scheduled Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) have cancelled the event citing unspecified economic, geopolitical, and pandemic-related concerns.

The event, which is usually held every second February during the European winter, will instead by replaced by a complementary show to be held in Doha, Qatar, in November 2023 dubbed the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar.

News of the cancellation of GIMS comes just weeks ahead of the start of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, which returns to the motor show circuit following a three-year hiatus.

Commenting on the cancellation of GIMS, head of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles, Maurice Turrettini, said: “The risks outweighed the opportunities… (and) due to the uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitics, as well as the risks related to the development of the pandemic, the organisers have decided to focus exclusively on the planning of the event in Doha in 2023.”

It is understood the Doha event will be held every two years in partnership with Qatar Tourism.

The Geneva International Motor Show has not been held since 2019 after being cancelled days ahead of a planned 2020 event due the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s cancellation is now the fourth made by organisers who said they regret having to make such a decision.

“In these uncertain times, many brands are not in a position to commit to participating in a show in Europe in the winter,” said GIMS chief executive, Sandro Mesquita.

The Geneva International Motor Show was first held in 1905 and has hosted every major internal-combustion engine powered brand in the history of the automobile, as well as benzene and steam-powered cars from the early 1900s.

Exotic supercars and futuristic concept models often steal the show, which has been the catalyst for dozens of prototypes, new equipment, technical breakthroughs, international partnerships, and even political and social debates.

Considered one of the most important events of the international motor show circuit, the Geneva International Motor Show has debuted breakthrough models including the Jaguar E-Type (1961), Range Rover Classic (1970), Lamborghini LP500 Concept (which became the LP400 Countach in 1974), Ferrari 288GTO (1984), Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (2001) and Volkswagen XL1 (2013).