When the world started to feel the noose of Covid-19 tighten it was big international events that first felt the brunt. The 2020 Geneva Motor Show was cancelled just days before the event was supposed to take place (as we reported here). Now we have news that the 2022 Geneva Motor Show has been cancelled as well.

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The event in Switzerland is one of the earlier events of the show calendar, taking place in March of each year. The 2021 event was cancelled as companies were still reeling from the effects of Covid-19 and the international travel bans that were in place between many countries.

With just over four months to go before the 2022 event would take place show organisers have made the announcement that the show will not happen in 2022. This is the third year in a row that the event will not take place. The Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) attracts over 10 000 journalists and more than 600 000 visitors to Geneva each year.

In their own words

“We have pushed very hard and tried everything to reactivate the Geneva International Motor Show in 2022”, says Maurice Turrettini, president of the comité permanent du salon international de l’automobile. “Despite all our efforts, we have to face the facts and the reality: the pandemic situation is not under control and presents itself as a big threat for a large indoor event like GIMS. But we see this decision as a postponement, rather than a cancellation. I am confident that the Geneva International Motor Show will come back stronger than ever in 2023.”

The CEO of the Geneva International Motor Show, Sandro Mesquita, states: “Many exhibitors have indicated that the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic make it impossible for them to make a firm commitment for GIMS 2022. On top of this is the negative impact that the current shortage of semiconductors has on car manufacturers. The chip crisis is likely to drag on well into next year, with negative financial implications for OEMs. In these uncertain times, many brands are therefore unable to make a commitment to participate in a trade fair that would have taken place in just over four months. When considering all the factors, it became clear that it was necessary to postpone the show, and to announce the news sooner than later to avoid cancelling at short notice.”