Geneva Motor Show

Geneva Motor Show ; ; Salon international de l'auto de Genève
	;
founding	1905
date	Suspended in 2020 (planned March 5-15, 2020)
place	Le Grand-Saconnex , Canton of Geneva , Switzerland
Surfaces	covered: 102,000 m² ; outdoors: 21,000 m²
Parking spaces	2,700 to 10,600
Visitors	2018: 660,000 ; 2017: 691,000 ; 2016: 687,000 ; 2015: 682,000 ; 2013: 690,000 ; 2010: 692,000 ; 2009: 648,000 ; 2008: 715,000 ; 2007: 730,000 ; 2006: 674,000
Website	gims.swiss

Geneva Motor Show, March 7, 2018

Geneva Motor Show, March 6, 2008

Geneva Motor Show, March 2006

Poster for Jules Courvoisier's 1926 Motor Show

The Geneva Motor Show ( French Salon international de l'auto de Genève ; Italian Salone internazionale dell'auto di Ginevra ; Romansh Salun internaziunal d'automobils a Genevra ; English Geneva International Motor Show , GIMS ) is one of the world's most important automobile trade fairs , next to the IAA , Paris Motor Show , Tokyo Motor Show, and Detroit Auto Show . The auto salon takes place every year at the beginning of March in the Palexpo exhibition complex in the political municipality of Le Grand-Saconnex in the canton of Geneva ( Switzerland ).

history

In 1905, the first so-called National Automobile and Bicycle Exhibition took place in a polling station on Boulevard Georges-Favon in Geneva, Switzerland . Since then, numerous vehicles from well-known manufacturers have been presented at the Geneva Motor Show, some of which have rewritten the history of the automobile . In 1982 the Geneva Motor Show moved from the old Palais des expositions in the city center to the new Palexpo exhibition complex.

Significant restrictions in the construction of the exhibition stands have contributed to the fair's clarity since it was founded. While in the 1920s only carpets and green plants were allowed for the design of an exhibition stand, today, for example, the permissible height of the exhibition stands is limited to 140 cm.

During the 76th edition from March 2 to 12, 2006, 260 exhibitors from 30 countries presented around 900 car models on an area of 102,000 m². 674,000 visitors came, including almost 5,000 media representatives from 80 countries.

The 77th Geneva Motor Show took place from March 8th to 18th, 2007 with 730,000 visitors. The 78th Geneva Motor Show took place from March 6 to 16, 2008. Around 715,000 tickets were sold.

In 2009 the automobile fair - which took place from March 5th to 15th, 2009 - saw a drop in visitors to 648,000. The 80th edition of the auto salon from March 4th to March 14th 2010 had 692,000 visitors. On the occasion of the Auto Salon 2018, Toyota announced that it would phase out the production of diesel cars.

In June 2020, the foundation, which owns the rights to the motor show, announced that it wanted to sell it. The rights holder estimates the trade fair's brand value at around 15 million francs.

Interruptions

In 1907 the exhibition was relocated to Zurich because an anti-car atmosphere arose in Geneva, which was based on a danger for pedestrians.
From 1908 to 1922 there was no national motor show in Switzerland.
There was also no exhibition from 1940 to 1945 due to the Second World War , not even in the first post-war year 1946.
In 2020 and 2021 the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .