It was announced on Friday that the annual motor show in Geneva, Switzerland, is coming to a close after more than a century due to dwindling interest and a tough market environment. First staged in 1905, the Geneva International Motor Show has been a fixture of new vehicle launches, mainly in Europe, attracting at least 120 exhibitors at its peak.
Citroën has premiered many vehicles at the show over the years. Iconic models like the SM, GS, and CX were first shown to the public in Geneva, and more recent introductions being; Berlingo, C1, C3, C4 Cactus, C6, C-Cactus, Ami One, and the “The Citroënist” SpaceTourer camper van. (View an extensive list of all cars shown per year here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_International_Motor_Show).
Citroën was not present at the last edition. The 2024 show saw only nine manufacturers exhibit their latest offerings; French brands Renault and Dacia, Chinese automaker BYD and its subbrands Denza and Yangweng, SAIC’s MG and IM, the American EV firm Lucid, and Italian design house Pininfarina. It drew only 168,000 visitors, short of the 200,000 the event had targeted.
The decision to end the Geneva International Motor Show follows the recognition that market conditions in Europe are “not conducive to the success of future editions”, organizers said.
While the Geneva Motor Show will not return, its legacy continues in different forms. The Geneva show was successfully held in Qatar in 2023, attracting 1,100 journalists and 180,000 visitors. The next edition is scheduled for November 2025. This shift to Qatar indicates a new direction for the event, leveraging its established brand in new markets.
It remains to be seen if Citroën will have any presence at the Qatar show in 2025.
Ah yes, the lovely city of Geneva, Qatar! One of my favourite places in Europe….. 🙂