The more than century-old Geneva International Motor Show will be cancelled for good following waning interest from automakers in what was once an unmissable industry event, organisers said Friday.The first Geneva auto show took place in 1905, attracting 17,000 visitors and had two more editions before a hiatus due to an economic crisis andThe Covid pandemic shut down the show again for four years.
When it returned earlier this year, there were 37 exhibitors and 168,000 visitors -- well below previous editions. In 2019, the year before Covid, it attracted 602,000 visitors and 184 exhibitors.Alexandre de Senarclens, president of the permanent committee of the foundation behind the event, said cancelling the show for good was an"extremely regrettable decision".
"The lack of interest shown by manufacturers in the Geneva Salon in a difficult industry context, the competition from the Paris and Munich shows which are favoured by their domestic industry, and the investment levels required to maintain such a show, sound the final blow," he added.