You againNo surprise you know.The 2024 edition of the Geneva Motor Show ended on Sunday, March 3, after a four-year absence from the scene.Not just any ordinary edition. In fact, the Swiss event celebrated its 100th anniversary as an International Motor Show in an entirely revamped format: Auto.Future.Now.An immersive and emotional experience made possible thanks to the collaboration of brands that immediately shared the goal of reinventing the motor show experience.This led to the development of four thematic areas: the Adrenaline zone, an area dedicated to ultra-high-performance vehicles, limited editions, tailor-made one-offs and the world of motorsport; the Design District, where Learn to Sketch with Frank classrooms were held by designer Frank Stephenson; the Mobility Lab, dedicated to micro-mobility; and the Next World Experience, an area created in collaboration with the creators of the Gran Turismo series.
There are many (many) absences of international groups such as Stellantis, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai, Kia and the Japanese manufacturers.Another new addition, already inaugurated, however, in the 2023 Doha edition, was the Classics Gallery, an exhibition with 35 iconic cars, including the Porsche 901 Quick Blue and the Ferrari 500 Superfast, that have made automotive history.
A rehearsal for a restart, a show renewed in form and content but not forgetting an important past.In fact, the first Auto Show in Switzerland opened its doors from April 29 to May 7, 1905, in the Electoral House (instead of the current Uni Dufour building) in Geneva. Organizers were Paul Buchet, Michelin's general representative for Switzerland, Geneva businessman Albert Vassali, and young engineer Jules Mégevet, owner of a car accessories company and president of the Swiss Auto Union Chamber.Even from the first edition, it was a great success: the show and its 37 booths welcomed more than 17,000 visitors with 59 exhibitors.On the strength of this success, Geneva repeated the operation from April 28 to May 6, 1906. The following year,in 1907, the city of Zurich was chosen as the venue for the event.It was then necessary to wait until 1923 to witness the fourth Swiss Motor Show.By 1934, the Geneva Motor Show gained worldwide fame. Closed during the war, it was the first show of its kind to reopen its doors in 1947.From 1970, the Salon was divided into two parts during even-numbered years: the first reserved for industrial vehicles, the second for passenger cars.On December 18, 1981, the "Nouveau Palais des Expositions et des Congrès de Genève" (PALEXPO), located near the airport and the current FFS train station, was inaugurated. In January 1982, Palexpo welcomed its first event: the International Industrial Vehicle Show, followed in March by the International Motor Show. The attractiveness of the new infrastructure, considered one of the most modern in Europe, enabled it to record an all-time visitor record.The absolute record of 747,700 admissions was reached in 2005, the year of the event's 75th edition. The economic crisis of 2008 obviously did not spare the Automotive Industry.Despite this, the privileged position of the Geneva Auto Show endures over the years (only forced stop due to Covid) thanks to two factors: first of all, the international reputation achieved by the city and last but not least, the privileged situation of Switzerland, practically the only nation where competition in the automobile market can take place freely and without quotas. For these reasons Geneva has an even more international character than the four salons of the manufacturing countries (Detroit, Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo).And since we like returns, this new skin has convinced us and we hope to see it again soon without having to wait another four years.
