The Geneva Motor Show is Back and Being Hosted in… Qatar

The Geneva Motor Show is Back and Being Hosted in… Qatar

The Geneva Motor Show is a classic motoring event where the world's manufacturers convene to showcase their engineering prowess. This iconic motoring show began in 1905 and proved to be a success from the get-go. The original show saw almost every then-available combustion-powered vehicle on display, including a few steam- and benzene-powered units too.

It has been a celebrated show for over a century, being one of the most influential motoring events on the planet. Its traditional location in Switzerland is set against a gorgeous backdrop where companies from around the world can be placed in the spotlight of global media to showcase the latest of their collections. The event has never left Switzerland, despite the occasional venue change.

The modern motor show, as we know it, was situated at the Palexpo near the Geneva International Airport, but this year the event took a turn to the east. The Geneva Motor Show has been on halt due to COVID-19, and its return was highly anticipated, but its location has us scratching our heads. This year, the motor show is held in Doha, Qatar, which is quite a change for this more than a century-old event.

It appears that the location change comes from the decline in the size of the show in recent years. In an attempt to rebuild the name, the location was picked due to a growing interest in variables like luxury cars in Qatar. There's no denying the rapid economic development in places like Qatar; with an eye towards expanding the show's reach by bringing the show to the people rather than the other way around, the country seemed like a natural fit.

The plan began in 2020 as an effort to expand tourism in the growing nation of Qatar. But the important thing to note is that the Qatar leg of the Geneva Motor Show isn’t an attempt to remake the show but to rather broaden its footprint with an emphasis on expansion. The Geneva Motor Show will return to Geneva in 2024, though.

In the future, while Geneva will continue hosting the annual event, every other year will see the show taking place in Qatar.The contract is a ten-year, five-show contract which will then be reevaluated. So don’t lose all hope in the historic event as it isn’t technically going anywhere.

As of writing, we are midway through the first Qatar-hosted Geneva Motor Show, and there are some interesting items on the plate. Audi just unveiled its new SQ8, a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 pumping out a perky 373kW and 770Nm. The most noticeable changes are its lights, with HD Matrix LEDs in the front and OLED taillights. Other notable brands, such as Lamborghini, have showcased offerings like the Revuelto PHEV supercar. Porsche, meanwhile, has its Mission X Concept EV on display and claims it will be the fastest road-legal car ever produced.

Brands including BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai, Toyota, Volkswagen, Bugatti, Kia, and many other stalwarts are gracing the Qatar-Geneva show. As the week unfolds, I'm sure that we will see more concepts and models unveiled. So keep an eye on our website for the latest.

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