At this rate, there may never be a Geneva Motor Show again.
If you're a big name in the auto industry, you absolutely must bring your car to the Geneva Motor Show. For decades the Swiss show was been the spot to show off your new EV, hypercar, SUV, or anything on four wheels. If you've got a Ferrari F8 to debut, Geneva, Switzerland is the place to do it. The same can be said of smaller, more niche brands like Koenigsegg. All take their cars to Geneva to get noticed on the world stage.
However, Geneva Motor Show hasn't really been Geneva Motor Show in the last few years. First, the Geneva Motor Show got canceled last minute due to the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, then the show relocated during the pandemic to become the Qatar Motor Show. Later its organizers, the foundation Comite Permanent du Salon International de l'Automobile de Geneve, postponed the 2022 show to 2023 in the hopes of returning it to Swiss soil. Now, we've found out it won't be.
"Due to the uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitics, as well as the risks related to the development of the pandemic, the organizers have decided to focus exclusively on the planning of the event in Doha in 2023," says Maurice Turrettini, President of the foundation.
The Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) will be held in Doha, Qatar in 2023, as decided by the organizers in a meeting this week. Originally, GIMS would be held in two stages. First, a leg would be held from February 14-19 in Geneva, with a second show in Doha, Qatar come November.
"We have done everything possible to ensure that we could host GIMS 2023 in Geneva in February. The enhanced event format and project had been very well received. But in the end, the risks overweighed the opportunities," said Turrettini.
"Our team has worked very hard to ensure that GIMS 2023 can take place in both Geneva and Doha," continued Sandro Mesquita, CEO of the Geneva International Motor Show, adding, "In these uncertain times, many brands are not in a position to commit to participating in a show in Europe in the winter. After assessing all the elements, it has become clear to the foundation that the 2023 Salon cannot take place in Geneva as planned. For the brands that wanted to participate in Geneva, the fans, and the loyal visitors to our Geneva Salon, we regret that we had to decide to cancel this 2023 edition."
As for the Qatar show, organizers say that it will take place in November 2023, as planned. It will be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, in addition to other as-yet-unnamed venues. It will also offer "many unique and spectacular driving experiences."
"We are now fully focused on organizing GIMS in Doha and look forward to confirming the dates and format of this ground-breaking event with our partners at Qatar Tourism shortly," concludes Mesquita. The show will take place in Qatar every two years as well.
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