We’ve all had to endure the cancellations of just about every public gathering this year, and that includes motor shows. The Geneva International Motor Show was the first major event of 2020 to be cancelled back in March, but now organizers say they won’t be having a show next year either.
In a statement released by the foundation behind the event, organizers say there is just too much uncertainty, both in where the world will be concerning Covid-19 by March next year, as well as in automaker involvement, considering the financial losses they’ve been hit with this year and the high costs of attending an international motor show. And to be honest, we can’t blame them for hesitating.
The foundation also says they have turned down a loan of $17.6 million USD from the State of Geneva, mainly because it was contingent on holding a 2021 show, and more than $1 million would have to be paid back by June of next year. In fact, finances are such that the foundation is trying to sell the rights to the event to Palexpo SA, the group that owns the convention centre that hosts the event.
The next edition of the Geneva Motor Show – whenever that may be – will be its 90th, and last year, more than 600,000 visitors passed through its gates. But as carmakers’ interest in large, expensive auto shows had been waning even before the pandemic, the future of the Geneva event is hardly secure.
*Images courtesy of Alvaro Pinzón, and you can check out his thoughts on last year’s Motor Show HERE
