The Geneva Motor Show has officially come to an end

Some would say that a new page is turning, others would say that the world is falling apart. The organizers of the Geneva show announced this week in a terse press release that they will not organize the next edition. Faced with the lack of prospects and the loss of appeal of the major motor shows, the Board of Directors of the Geneva International Motor Show Foundation did not want to risk launching the marketing campaign for the 2025 edition, it must be said, four years later. After years of absence, especially due to the coronavirus crisis, the 2024 edition will not be remembered. It has turned into a sham, with only a few constructors present. Renault, the only team that has participated in all the major European events since the end of the coronavirus pandemic, had a feeling of being fooled when it learned a few weeks before the event that it would be the only participant in history. It was supposed to share the first part of the ground floor with the Chinese manufacturer. The other part, where BMW and Mercedes are installed every year, is not occupied. The first floor was originally reserved for craftsmen and luxury brands, and this year part of the space was used to award the Car of the Year trophy.

With Geneva disappearing from the calendar, the best of them left too. Not content with kicking off the European season every year at the beginning of March, the Swiss event has always been the only one to showcase the achievements of craftsmen, designers and luxury brands. It is known for its friendly and human dimension. Born in 1905, the Geneva Motor Show will always be marked by the presentation of production models and landmark stylistic exercises. Thus, Jaguar chose to launch the Type E in 1961. In 1969, Porsche made the world premiere of the famous 917. In 1984, the launch of the Ferrari 288 GTO attracted widespread attention on the track. The Italian manufacturer’s booth. This show, which was intended to be a celebration of automotive grandeur, was also enhanced by other events that are etched in the memory.