The Geneva Motor Show 2021 Is Cancelled

As is well known, this year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show, 2020, had to be cancelled due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This seems to have plunged the event into chaos. In a recent announcement, the organisers of this legendary Motor Show have confirmed that they have also decided to cancel the 2021 edition, which was due to start, as usual, in March.

They also wished to add that “the majority of exhibitors at the Geneva Motor Show who took part in a survey stated that they would probably not take part in a 2021 edition… and that they would prefer to have a GIMS in 2022″.

The organisers of the famous event have confirmed that car manufacturers need time to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic and that it is “far from certain” that an event in 2021 could attract the hundreds of thousands of visitors who usually attend the Motor Show.

Geneva Motor Show: will it return in 2022 or be cancelled permanently?

In addition to cancelling the 2021 Geneva Motor Show, the organisers have announced plans to sell the event. They want to sell the show to Palexpo SA, which organises the event, and noted that this is their preferred option, as it “would guarantee the regular organisation of an International Motor Show in Geneva”.

The organisers also explained that the sudden cancellation of this year’s show resulted in losses of approximately ten million euros. The organisation requested financial support and was approved for a loan of approximately 16 million euros. Although this is good news, the company that currently organises the event has pointed out that this loan came with conditions that they could not sign.

The key objections were that the organisers would have to hold a Geneva Motor Show in 2021 and make a repayment of 935,000 euros in June 2021. Given these demands, the loan was not accepted. For the time being, it is unclear how things will develop, but it appears that the Geneva Motor Show as we know it has been cancelled, at least for now.

The statement reads, “due to the financial consequences of the cancellation of GIMS 2020 by the Federal Council for reasons of force majeure as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Foundation responsible for organising the event has had to take some important decisions regarding the future of GIMS”.

“The Committee and the Board of the Foundation have decided not to organise an event in 2021: the majority of GIMS exhibitors who took part in a survey stated that they would probably not take part in a 2021 edition and would prefer to have a GIMS in 2022. The automotive sector is currently going through a difficult phase and exhibitors need time to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Furthermore, it is far from certain that the current health situation would allow the organisation of an event that would attract more than 600,000 visitors and 10,000 journalists next spring”.

“The Foundation thanks the competent authorities of the Canton and State of Geneva for their willingness to grant this loan to GIMS, but does not see the terms of the loan as a guarantee of the Foundation’s long-term financial stability in its current form. The Foundation has therefore decided in favour of selling GIMS to Palexpo SA. The aim is to find a solution that ensures the regular organisation of an International Motor Show in Geneva. The purchase of the assets would transfer all rights to organise GIMS to Palexpo SA. As a reminder, GIMS is the largest public event in Switzerland“.