2023 Geneva Motor Show cancelled, but Qatar event will go ahead

The 2023 Geneva Motor Show was due to take place in two parts with the main event in February and a Qatar edition in November, however the former has now been called off

Geneva Motor Show

The Geneva Motor Show has been one of the most important events in the motoring calendar with many car manufacturers using it to unveil new cars and their latest technology. The 2023 show was scheduled to take place in February after several years of cancellations, but now organisers have said it will be in Doha, Qatar in November next year. 

Not held since 2019 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Maurice Turettini, President of the Geneva International Motor Show Foundation said, "Due to the uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitics, as well as the risks related to the development of the pandemic, the organisers have decided to focus exclusively on the planning of the event in Doha in 2023". 

The original plan was to host the show in two editions, the first from 14 to 19 February 2023 at Palexpo in Geneva and the second in November in Doha, Qatar.

"We have done everything possible to ensure that we could host GIMS 2023 in Geneva in February. The enhanced event format and project had been very well received. But in the end, the risks overweighed [sic] the opportunities," said Turettini.

The main event will take place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. GIMS says it will offer many unique and spectacular driving experiences. "We are now fully focused on organising GIMS in Doha and look forward to confirming the dates and format of this ground-breaking event with our partners at Qatar Tourism shortly," added Sandro Mesquita, CEO of the Geneva International Motor Show. The Qatar version is scheduled to take place every two years from 2023. 

Now check out the best new cars coming in 2023...

Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

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