Geneva Motor Show cancelled for 2021

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the world's biggest and most prestigious auto events, Geneva International Motor Show, is among the first victims of COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year in Europe. The 2020 show was canceled at the last minute, so there was probably no way to recover costs. Turns out 2021 will not happen either, as the organizers have canceled the next year's show well in advance.

Among the reasons, continuing coronavirus concern is the obvious one. Besides that, the show's organizers surveyed prospective exhibitors who responded that they would not likely display in 2021 and would prefer the 2022 show. So even if it was happening, there might not have been enough exhibitors to flesh it out.

The non-occurrence of the 2020 show had a significant financial impact on the Committee and Council of the Foundation "Salon International de l'Automobile," which claims the loss of $11.55 million. It approached the Canton and State of Geneva for a loan to mitigate the losses and received the approval of a $17.64 million loan amount at the beginning of June. But the foundation turned it down as it did not see the terms and conditions of the loan as a guarantee of the long-term financial stability.

So now, without a viable loan, the foundation is trying to sell the rights of the show to Palexpo SA, the unit that owns and operates the convention centre that hosts the event.

The Geneva International Motor Show is considered the largest public event in Switzerland and has an economic impact of $210m a year, according to the organizers.

The coronavirus has also taken down several other shows, including the 2020 Detroit Motor Show, 2020 New York International Auto Show, 2020 British Motor Show, as well as Malaysia's largest annual automotive event. And now for the next year shows, organizers are facing similar dilemmas as these events need months of planning and huge investments. Thus, we hope the soon returning of auto shows flaunting the same grandeur.

Also read: 2020 Malaysian Auto Show postponed to April 2021