So the Geneva show is off for 2021, and perhaps forever more. The show organisers, still coming to financial terms with the cancelling of the 2020 show in March, have already called off next year’s event, given the lukewarm response they had from potential exhibitors to the prospect of a 2021 edition.
And with the organisers now trying to sell the show to the Palexpo venue in which it is held, it’s very hard to see the stars aligning to allow it to make a comeback in a recognisable form in 2022, either.
Geneva motor show axed for 2021
Budgets will have been written without Geneva in it from car makers exhibiting there, and given most European motor shows have more sitting in the ‘out’ column than the ‘in’, the prospect of forking out the millions needed to display again at a time when belts will still need to be tightened as a result of the pandemic will not be an appealing one.
Cost-wise, it’s not as simple as building a stand: it’s the staffing of that stand for two weeks or more, and all the hotel, travel and subsistence costs that come with that, as well as all the literature to hand out and the cost of transporting said stand and vehicles to populate it.
And displaying at a motor show is always a hard thing to put a return on investment on, given they’re largely a PR and marketing exercise outside of ‘selling’ shows in China and the US, where car buyers do still tend to buy rather than browse.
Geneva’s passing is to be lamented. It’s a great start to the motoring calendar. Its early March date allows the first two months of the year to be filled with news of the new cars we’ll be seeing at the show, and driving soon after.
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Correction
We're both in the industry, not 'in the did try'
Noooooo!!!!
Love motorshows and geneva is/was the best.
A mate and I used to do a day trip, easy as it's right by the airport, with an early start and late finish. We'd have a relaxing mooch about having a great catch up about this, that and the other, whilst having a look and sit in all the latest metal. Spend far too much on coffee and have a proper lunch down in the basement.
I normally look at this website far too much, but just wouldn't in the first 3 months of the year so I could get a few surprises myself.
Were also both in the did try so it was useful to get up close to so much new stuff all in one place
We'd just have a thoroughly fab day!
Ps got my eye on Munich now, that could be our new destination for the relocated German show
When I was a lad...
When I was a lad living in Norfolk the Great Yarmouth Motorshow used to be a highlight of the year. Obvioulsy among my classmates but also most dads too. It was run by all the local car dealerships and held (in winter) at Vauxhall Caravan Park in aid of local charities. Yes, they sold cars off the stands.The funny thing is out of all the shows I've been to this remains my favourite, it was friendly and you always bumped into people you knew. (In my case other kids from school).
Maybe this is the future of the car show?