The Geneva Auto Show closed in Switzerland after over 100 years. It will now happen in Qatar instead. The organizers of the Geneva Auto Show closed down their Swiss event for good. Quoting them, the move is due to "industry challenges and competition." However, the show will continue on under a new name - the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar or GIMS Qatar. That’s the odd bit: the Geneva Auto Show closed in Switzerland but opened in Qatar. But they’re not calling it the “Doha Auto Show” or the “Qatar Auto Show”; it’s still being named after Geneva. It is sad because the Geneva Auto Show closed down in their hometown — so can we really call it the “Geneva” Auto Show anymore? Pandemic Troubles Led to Geneva Auto Show Closed The plan to move the Geneva Auto Show closed to Switzerland down started in 2021. The organizers made a deal with Qatar's tourism board to share hosting. The original idea was to have the Geneva Auto Show closed for some years but also happened in Qatar for others. Basically how it would work was this: Every year, the Geneva show would be held. But once every two or three years, the show would be held in Doha. In the years when the show was held in Doha, it would not be held in Geneva. However, that did not work out after the Geneva Auto Show closed in 2020 due to COVID-19. While other auto shows re-opened, the Geneva Auto Show closed for 2021 and 2022 too. A Geneva show did occur in 2023 but the Geneva Auto Show closed its Swiss location for good after that. The Qatar version will still happen in 2023 as planned. And GIMS Qatar will continue, with the 2024 show from November 27 to December 6. Will the Move Revive the Closed Geneva Auto Show? So why was the Geneva Auto Show closed in Switzerland and moved? The warmer Qatar weather may attract more visitors and automakers. Contrastingly, the Geneva Auto Show closed early (when comparing it to other shows) because of the super cold winters of Switzerland. However, automakers have lost interest in big auto shows lately. So it's uncertain if changing locations can revive excitement after the Geneva Auto Show closed down in its home city. The "Geneva" name still holds weight despite the Geneva Auto Show closed there. Combined with Qatar's tourism push, maybe GIMS Qatar will succeed when the Geneva Auto Show closes. No doubt, it will have to take on a completely new identity, and build its audience from the ground up. It is going to be a challenge, and we’ll just have to wait and see how it unfolds. Only one thing is for certain though — we are going to sorely miss the definitive auto show. Source: Geneva Motor Show On Facebook
