The 2023 Geneva International Motor Show has been cancelled “due to uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitics”, according to an official statement.
Originally planned to take place over two legs – Geneva in February and Doha, Qatar, in November – the show is now limited to the latter, its debut at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
The Qatari event will take place on a biennial basis as part of a tie-up with Qatar Tourism.
This is the fourth consecutive year in which the Geneva show has been cancelled; the 2022, 2021 and 2020 events were axed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Maurice Turettini, president of the permanent committee of the Geneva International Motor Show, said: “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 [sic] the opportunities.”
Sandro Mesquita, CEO of the Geneva International Motor Show, added: “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.”
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Attending the annual UK Motorshow at Earls Court or Birmingham was my birthday and Christmas rolled into one when I was a kid. Seeing and sitting in all the great new cars and collecting all those glossy brochures was the highlight of my year. I loved watching the television coverage to see what to expect during my visit and spotted many a celebrity walking the halls.
So it was devastating when manufacturers started to pull out of the UK Motorshow that led to its demise, meaning I couldn't take my own kids to it for them to experience the same excitement as I had. The Motorshow held at Farnborough now isn't really a true motorshow, more a sales pitch for a handful of new cars and a few entertainment features like stunt driving as well as classic cars - and Mike Brewer's constant sales pitch of cars like Ssang Yong whilst lining them up along with supercars got on my nerves last year.
And now Geneva looks to be going the same way which is a shame as I was hoping to visit next year. I think it's probably because when I attended motorshows, buying a new car was something you could aspire to. But new car prices in recent times have made sure that is no longer the case for most people, and with a cost of living crisis and interest rates going up, even those 'renting' new cars on finance will no longer be able to do so.
So I suppose car makers don't see the point of holding a motorshow if the general public don't have enough money to buy their overpriced cars, even though for me it was still a fantastic day out regardless of actually considering a purchase. It's a shame the huge number of visitors and the high ticket prices paid aren't enough financial justification for a motorshow still to be held.
So it can work in Qatar, but not in Geneva?
Just have a Trade Show, because the public if they want to see the Car they like they wait till it's in the dealers and then go and see it, no Planes, Trains, Bus or indeed some long tedious drive to get there, where your charged a fortune to get in, the Food is expensive,and Drinks are dearer than Petrol/ Deisel!
Peter, have you ever been to a motor show? they are great. Cars from every manufacturer, not just to look at, like on the internet, but see, touch, sit it, etc, but NO salemen. Used be a few pretty ladies asking for details so they could post info etc, but they werent really bothered if all you wanted to do was look at the cars, (or them).
Its a real shame manufacturers have given up on them. I dont understand why either. They say they are too expensive, yet the same venues host classic car shows, where no club pays to show their cars, and the public dont pay any more either. And the following week they will have a knitting show, or similar.
Yes, I used to go, the last was in Glasgow,it was the Scottish Motor show, and the newest Car was an Opel Commadore!, so, yes, a long time, I think buyers don't all want to go, the events have been on the decline for a while, going to Quatar?, why?, because money talks, because there's more money in Quatar, don't think I'd be going even if I was a serial show goer.