The Coronavirus Scare Has Put A Halt To The Iconic Geneva International Motor Show

This week, the spread of coronavirus has been felt across the US economy. The threat of the disease alone has been the catalyst to stock market records in the wrong direction. It seems like the United States is far from the only country outside China feeling the impact of the virus. In fact, countries across the world are taking precautions to make sure that the impact is as small as possible.

Recently, one of the biggest auto shows of the year has been canceled. Geneva was due to start next week on Thursday, March 5th. Due to the Swiss government’s banning of gatherings of 1,000 or more people to prevent the spread of disease, the show has been canned for 2020. This ban is effective immediately and we’re told that it will run until at least March 15th. There have been no plans to postpone the show. It would appear as if they will just be trying again in 2021 as the organizers deal with the blow.

The show has been known to attract as many as 700,000 people and is a staple of the automotive industry.

A statement from the show’s organizers started “We regret this situation, but the health of all participants is our and our exhibitors’ top priority.”

They would go on to acknowledge how important the show can be to some manufacturers but say they’re “convinced that they will understand this decision.”

Tickets already purchased for the event will be immediately refunded. The rest of the financial consequences for those involved in the event will be assessed in the coming days. The organizers will communicate any updates that they may have via their website as they come available.

Geneva has been known for some of the industry’s biggest releases and unveilings. Several automakers had planned to debut their latest models at this year’s show.