Geneva Motor Show Officially Axed And Replaced With Qatar

The Geneva International Motor Show (Geneva Motor Show) has officially reached its end after spanning over a century.

The Geneva International Motor Show - or Geneva Motor Show - renowned for its influential role in the automotive industry for over a century, has reached a rather unceremonious end. This was confirmed by show organisers via social media recently, and it successor the venue Qatar is set to continue.

“After much deliberation, we’ve made the tough decision to discontinue the Geneva Salon due to ongoing industry challenges and competition,” read the statement issued by organisers via its official Facebook page. 

Furthermore, a press release issued by organisers also confirmed that the foundation of the show will also be dissolved. 

It is a known fact that the Geneva Autoshow is the pinnacle of motor shows. However, since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the show endured a tough recovery effort.

This struggle was evident at its recent edition held earlier this year as it saw the absence of countless major automakers. Amongst them were BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai and Volkswagen Group. 

Due to the absence of the major automakers, it became an advantage to the Chinese Automakers to steal the limelight from the show before its final curtain drop. 

The latest - and final - edition of the Geneva Motor Show held earlier this year saw a drop in attendance to just 168,000 visitors.

The Geneva International Motor Show, which was once a neutral ground for European automakers, has seen a decline in attendance this year, with only 168,000 visitors attending from Feb 26 to March 3. 

Moving forward, organisers and local authorities are planning for its Qatar motor show spin-off to continue starting in Nov 2025 and build a new audience outside Europe. 

Though the Geneva International Motor Show brand has reinforced its appeal in the Middle East, a Swiss show will not be revived due to lack of interest, as well as stiff competition from rival shows held in Paris and Munich, and the high investment levels required to maintain such a show. KR