No 2023 motor show in Geneva
GIMS won’t be returning to Geneva in 2023 (Photo: Tyrepress / Stephen Goodchild)
Anyone planning to visit next year’s Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) should hold off making reservations at their favourite fondue restaurant and can forget slipping away for a spot of skiing, as in 2023 it will exclusively take place in Doha, Qatar. The Comité permanent du Salon international de l’automobile de Genève foundation has announced the cancellation of the event planned for Geneva in February 2023.
“Due to the uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitics, as well as the risks related to the development of the pandemic, the organisers have decided to focus exclusively on the planning of the event in Doha in 2023,” says foundation president Maurice Turettini.
One show instead of two
At a meeting held in Bern yesterday, Committee and Foundation Board members decided that next year’s GIMS will only take place in Qatar. The original plan was to hold GIMS 2023 in two editions, the first from 14 to 19 February 2023 at Palexpo in Geneva and the second – a world premiere – in November in Doha.
“We have done everything possible to ensure that we could host GIMS 2023 in Geneva in February. The enhanced event format and project had been very well received. But in the end, the risks overweighed the opportunities,” says Turettini.
“Our team has worked very hard to ensure that GIMS 2023 can take place in both Geneva and Doha,” adds Sandro Mesquita, chief executive officer of GIMS. “In these uncertain times, many brands are not in a position to commit to participating in a show in Europe in the winter. After assessing all the elements, it has become clear to the foundation that the 2023 Salon cannot take place in Geneva as planned. For the brands that wanted to participate in Geneva, the fans and the loyal visitors to our Geneva Salon, we regret that we had to decide to cancel this 2023 edition.”
Biennial Doha show
The first edition of the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar will take place in November 2023 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) as well as several other decentralised venues. The organiser states that the event, which is scheduled to take place every two years, will offer many unique and spectacular driving experiences. “We are now fully focused on organising GIMS in Doha and look forward to confirming the dates and format of this ground-breaking event with our partners at Qatar Tourism shortly,” concludes Mesquita.
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