Official: 2020 Geneva Motor Show Canceled Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

[Bili]

The 90th edition of the GIMS, which was supposed to welcome the media from next Monday and the general public from 5 to 15 March 2020, will now finally not take place. This is an injonction decision of the Federal Council of 28 February 2020 that no events with more than 1,000 people are allowed to take place until 15 March 2020. The decision falls 3 days before the opening of the exhibition to the media.

More at: THE GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW IS CANCELLED!

 

[pumadog]

Too bad for the people involved, but health comes first.

Let's see how FCA will handle the premieres now. Online only? Or some rapidly organized event(s) at Balocco/Mirafiori/Arese in the coming weeks?

 

[redriderbob]

Abarth, Alfa Romeo, FIAT, and Jeep were planned to show off new vehicles at the show.

https://moparinsiders.com/the-2020-geneva-international-motor-show-has-been-cancelled/

 

[Bili]

There will be online presentations for Alfa Romeo products:
Alfa Romeo shakes up the motoring world: a legend returns

 

[Bili]

 

[KrisW]

There's quite a bit of anger about how the show organisers handled this: they are keeping the exhibitor fees, and now don't have to pay anyone to staff the show - manufacturers, meanwhile are left with displays they can't use (there won't be a later re-run), and extra transportation costs to return their exhibition materials at short notice.

I think the show will decline after this, especially as, according to the ANE article below, the relationship between organisers and exhibitors wasn't great even before this stunt.

Geneva show's cancelation was poorly handled

 

[pumadog]

I thought – as it was canceled very shortly before the opening when everything was almost ready – they could have opened for press days only. Must have been possible to stay under 1,000 people/day.

 

[KrisW]

I don't think it would be possible. The show area is so big that there's probably a couple of thousand staff there before they even open the doors....

 

[Bili]

The only important European show for FCA was this one in Geneva. FCA regularly skipped both Frankfurt and Paris in recent years.

Interesting that FCA had refused to be part of virtual presentations for Geneva Auto Show.

 

[Deckard Cain]

Now that PSA is being merged into FCA maybe they'll start showing their stuff at the Paris auto show instead.

 

[redriderbob]

2020 Geneva Motor Show Mega Photo Gallery