GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: 2022 Geneva motor show cancelled

The Geneva International Motor Show won’t return until at least 2023, with organisers pulling the pin on next year’s event that was set down for February 19-27.

It’ll be the third year in a row that the important Swiss auto extravaganza has been cancelled, having last been staged in 2019 with the 89th Geneva show.

According to organisers, “industry-wide issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic” are again behind the show’s axing, although this time around the related global semi-conductor shortage is also at play. 

In a statement, organisers said the decision to cancel the 2022 Geneva motor show was made with the best interests of both car manufacturers and automotive fans in mind.

They said steps to evolve the platform will continue to be implemented, allowing for a “more impactful show in 2023” with a digital ecosystem to engage more people around the world for an overall enhanced experience.

“We have pushed very hard and tried everything to reactivate the Geneva International Motor Show in 2022,” said event chairman Maurice Turrettini.

“Despite all our efforts, we have to face the facts and the reality: the pandemic situation is not under control and presents itself as a big threat for a large indoor event like GIMS. But we see this decision as a postponement, rather than a cancellation.”

According to GIMS chief executive Sandro Mesquita, many exhibitors have indicated that uncertainties caused by the pandemic make it impossible for them to make a firm commitment for a show next February.

“The chip crisis is likely to drag on well into next year, with negative financial implications for OEMs,” he said.

“In these uncertain times, many brands are therefore unable to make a commitment to participate in a trade fair that would have taken place in just over four months.

“When considering all the factors, it became clear that it was necessary to postpone the show, and to announce the news sooner than later to avoid cancelling at short notice.”

The 2020 show was cancelled just three days before it was due to open.

It’s not yet clear whether the recently announced biennial Doha show – to be known officially as the Qatar Geneva International Motor Show – will still go ahead as planned in late 2022 or early 2023.

Almost all major motor shows have been cancelled since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold early in 2020, although the recent Munich show in Germany was deemed a success, as was the Shanghai show in China earlier this year.