Geneva 2021: No car show at Palexpo
REPEATED CANCELLATION The Geneva International Motor Show will not be held next year either. The committee and board of trustees have decided not to hold the traditional gathering of the industry again until 2022. The Motor Show is considered the largest public event in Switzerland and had already been canceled this year due to the pandemic. In 2021, the Motor Show should have been held from 4 [...]
The Motor Show is considered the largest public event in Switzerland and had already been canceled this year due to the pandemic. In 2021, the Motor Show should have taken place from March 4 to 14.
The new cancellation is also justified by the financial consequences of this year's cancellation, which caused an estimated eleven million Swiss francs in losses.
Refusal of financial support
Immediately after the cancellation of the Salon in March 2020, the Foundation asked the Canton of Geneva for support to cover the losses and prepare a new edition. In early June, the Grand Council approved a loan of 16.8 million Swiss francs to the Foundation.
However, the Foundation did not see the terms of the loan as a guarantee for the long-term financial stability of the Foundation in its current form. If there is no event in 2021, the foundation would have to make a repayment of one million Swiss francs as early as June 2021 without any inflow of funds.
Exhibitors prefer Salon 2022
A condition of the loan is further that an event is to be organized in 2021; this condition cannot be met. The loan was therefore not accepted.
He said a survey also indicated that a majority of exhibitors "probably" would not participate in a new edition of the show in 2021, preferring a 2022 auto show.
Difficult health situation
The Auto Show's announcement states, among other things: "The automotive sector is going through a difficult period and exhibitors need time to recover from the effects of the pandemic."
In addition, he said, it is not certain that the health situation in Switzerland caused by the pandemic will allow the organization of an event with more than 600,000 visitors next spring.
Sale of GIMS to Palexpo SA
The Foundation has therefore decided to favor the sale of GIMS to Palexpo SA. The aim is to find a solution that will ensure the regular organization of an International Motor Show in Geneva.
