Geneva auto show calls Switzerland quits, relocates to Qatar

Geneva returned to the auto show circuit in 2024 after a long hiatus, but its comeback was short-lived. The organizers have announced that the 2024 edition of the Geneva International Motor Show was a disappointment, notably in terms of participation from carmakers, and they're throwing in the towel.

Even younger enthusiasts remember when Geneva was the most exciting date on the auto show circuit. Its location helped it achieve this distinction: Switzerland is known for a great many things including chocolate, watches, and a relatively loose tax structure, but "car-making" doesn't appear on its résumé (unless you count oddballs like Monteverdi). This put everyone on equal footing; the Swiss remained neutral right down to their auto shows. In contrast, the Paris auto show is a French car-fest while the Frankfurt auto show was all about the Germans.

Geneva has also historically been the venue of choice for car companies pegged on the industry's upper echelons to reveal their latest and greatest models. The Bugatti Chiron made its debut at the 2016 edition of the show. Ferrari presented the LaFerrari there in 2013, and the Porsche 918 Spyder was first shown as a concept in 2010. Pie-in-the-sky startups and stomach-churning tuners had a spot at the show, too, and the focus on high-end cars didn't detract mainstream brands from attending. The Fiat 500L was one of the 2012 show's reveals.