The Sad Demise of the Geneva International Motor Show

The Geneva International Motor Show, a prestigious event with a century-long history, has unfortunately come to an end. In a statement released on June 1, 2024, the organizers announced the indefinite cancellation of the show due to “ongoing industry competition and challenges.”

Established in 1905, the Geneva Motor Show was once considered one of the world’s top five motor shows along with the Frankfurt Motor Show (now Munich Motor Show) in Germany, the North American International Auto Show in the US, the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, and the Paris Motor Show in France. It used to be a platform that showcased the most innovative designs and cutting-edge technologies, and many star models chose to make their debut here, earning it the reputation of a “barometer of international automotive trends.”

However, the global pandemic of 2020 forced the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show. In the following two years of 2021 and 2022, the show was again suspended due to the spread of the pandemic and the subsequent economic recession. In 2023, the Geneva Motor Show was held in Qatar in the Middle East. In February 2024, it returned to its native Switzerland, but there were only a meager number of exhibitors, with only five automotive brands including Renault, Dacia, BYD, MG, and Lucid, while well-known manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda were all absent. The actual number of visitors was only 168,000, far lower than the expected 200,000.

Facing the reality of a declining appeal and fading glory, the organizers of the Geneva Motor Show finally decided to halt the show in Switzerland. It is understood that the organizing committee plans to hold a motor show in Qatar in November 2025 to seek to establish a “fan base” outside of Europe. It’s truly a pity to see such an iconic event in the automotive world come to this end, and it leaves us with a sense of nostalgia and reflection on the ever-changing automotive industry landscape.