Motor Shows
Motor Shows

2020 Geneva Motor Show cancelled: what car brands are doing instead

With news the 90th annual Geneva motor show had been cancelled amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus, the world's biggest motoring brands were forced to get innovative.


After a decision from Switzerland's Federal Council decreed no events with more than 1000 people were allowed to take place until March 15, 2020, organisers announced the 11-day show's cancellation, calling it "a tremendous loss for the manufacturers who have invested massively in their presence in Geneva".

While organisers assured the public purchased tickets would be refunded, the details for individual brands were not so clear.

No longer able to showcase their creations to the media (and social media) in person, manufacturers were left with a limited timeframe in which to develop a contingency plan.

Here's what we know so far about how each participating party will tackle the challenge.

 

Aston Martin

Aston Martin's press conference will proceed at its Gaydon headquarters in the UK from 8am on the morning of Wednesday, March 4, UK time (7pm Wednesday, March 4, AEDT).

 

Geneva #GIMS Motor-Show has been unfortunately cancelled. @astonmartin will therefore broadcast its Press Conference from Gaydon at 8-00am on Wednesday 4th March. Details to follow but please join us.

— Dr. Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) February 28, 2020

 

Audi

Audi will debut its A3 Sportback and e-tron S prototype in an all-digital launch on its media platform from 7.50pm on Tuesday, March 3, AEDT.

The carmaker said: “40 years ago the quattro drive celebrated its world premiere. Follow the next level on March 3 at 9:50 am CET: quattro goes electric. Audi broadcasts the world premieres of the Audi A3 Sportback and the prototype of the Audi e-tron S here on Audi MediaTV.”

 

BAC

BAC will proceed with the launch of its new Mono One as planned on March 3 and will also set up shop in Liverpool's BAC Innovation Centre to from March 3 to 13 to allow media and fans to see the cars in person.

Details regarding the online component of the reveal, if any, are yet to be confirmed.

 

NEW #BACMONO UPDATE - we will be revealing full details on the new-generation car at 9:15am on Tuesday 3 March as planned Strap yourselves in for the launch! pic.twitter.com/RfNIzGiF4f

— BAC (@discovermono) February 28, 2020

 

Bentley

“Bentley welcomes the decision of the Geneva State Council to cancel this year’s Geneva Motor Show,” the company said in statement to AutoNews.

“This is a decision in the interests of the health and safety of all participants and our colleagues.”

While a livestream of the company's planned March 3 Mulliner Bacalar reveal is likely, Bentley is yet to release the details.

 

BMW

BMW had plans to launch its first electrified Gran Coupe, the i4, at the Geneva motor show and has decided to push ahead with the reveal – but as part of a virtual press conference.

CEO Oliver Zipse will still present the i4 concept, BMW's competitor to Tesla's Model 3, in a press conference at the scheduled local time of 8.15am on Tuesday March 3 (6.15pm on Tuesday, March 3, AEDT) that will be livestreamed here.

 

Drive

 

European Car of the Year

The Geneva motor show typically sees the presentation of the European Car of the Year award, voted on by journalists from multiple outlets across Europe and the United Kingdom.

This year's nominees are the BMW 1-Series, Ford Puma, Peugeot 208, Porsche Taycan, Renault Clio, Tesla Model 3 and Toyota Corolla.

While the ceremony will now be a closed-door event, people can watch on as the 2020 European Car of the Year award is announced on Monday, March 2, at 3pm Swiss time (1am, Tuesday, March 3, AEDT) via a livestream on the Geneva motor show website.

 

Hyundai

A representative for Hyundai told Drive the company is exploring livestream options.

The brand was scheduled to reveal its new i20 and its 'Prophecy' electric concept.

 

McLaren

McLaren has promised it will debut a "sensational new supercar" via this livestream link from 8.30am on Tuesday, March 3 (or 7.30pm on Tuesday AEDT).

The car will be presented by McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt from the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, in the United Kingdom.

 

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz will also push ahead with its planned press conference, albeit via virtual means, live-streaming the launch of its new E-Class from a studio in Stuttgart, Germany, at this link.

A second press conference on 'Motorsports and Sustainability' featuring Daimler AG board member, Markus Schäfer, CEO of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Toto Wolff, Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, and Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team member, Nyck de Vries will also be available on the Mercedes media site.

 

Porsche

Porsche has announced it will showcase its new flagship 911 in a livestream world premiere hosted by brand ambassador and former F1 driver Mark Webber.

The reveal will take place at 8.10pm on Tuesday, March 3 (AEDT) and will be available to view in English and Chinese here.

 

Toyota

A Toyota spokesperson told Drive the company was still working on revised timings for its scheduled reveals for its new Yaris and Yaris-based SUV.

 

Volkswagen

From 9.10am on Tuesday, March 3, (7.30pm on March 3, AEDT) Volkswagen will stream the world premieres of its Touareg R and eighth-generation Golf GTI at this link.

Drive
Susannah Guthrie

Susannah Guthrie has been a journalist for over a decade, covering everything from world news to fashion, entertainment, health and now cars. Having previously worked across titles like The New Daily, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, People Magazine and Cosmopolitan, Susannah now relishes testing family cars with the help of her husband and two-year-old son.

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