PHOTOS:^ GETTYIMAGESNEWSI OPINIONI GOSSIPI STUFFTrend 6.
J
ust days before it was to open to the
media, with construction nearly
finished and executives and media
en route (including one MT editor
already on a plane), the 90th Geneva
International Motor Show was canceled.
It was just the third time in the show’s
history, the other two being World Wars.
The last-minute decision was made
following a mandate from the Swiss
government forbidding public events
of more than 1,000 people, spurred by
the recent discovery of COVID-19 cases
within Switzerland and a concentrated
outbreak in nearby northern Italy.
Unable to present their latest models and
concepts in person, automakers scram-
bled to organize digital debuts on less
than a week’s notice. Several turned to2020 Geneva Motor Show*
livestreams. Others simply sent out press
releases and images. But regardless of
how, the show went on ... line.
The original order from the Swiss
government was set to expire on March
15, which would have been the last day of
the show, though as you know, that didn’t
happen. Indeed, the Geneva show became
the canary in the automotive industry’s
coal mine. At the same time some brands
were revealing their cars online, others
were canceling new vehicle press events.
In the three weeks following Geneva’s
cancellation, the pandemic spread rapidly
to more countries, forcing every major
automaker to close manufacturing plants
in deeply affected countries, including
China, Italy, Japan, Germany, South
Korea, and the U.S.
April’s New York International Auto
Show was also postponed, now to be
held in August. All automotive press
events scheduled well into May were
postponed or canceled, including the
long-awaited reveal of the new Ford
Bronco. Along with every other major
sporting league, NASCAR, IndyCar, and
Formula 1 canceled or postponed major
events, such as the 12 Hours of Sebring
and the Monaco Grand Prix. Later events,including the 24 Hours of Le Mans
and the Pikes Peak International
Hill Climb, both scheduled in June,
were also postponed. Even the release
dates for car-heavy movies like the
ninth Fast and Furious movie, Fast 9,
and the latest James Bond movie, No
Time to Die, were pushed back up to a year
to protect box office numbers.
As this issue went to press in late March,
the automotive industry was effectively
paralyzed, first by parts shortages due
to lockdowns in China and then by less
strict but still severe lockdowns in the U.S.,
Japan, Germany, Italy, and South Korea.
With employees sent home and nonessen-
tial businesses closed, there were neither
people to build cars nor people to buy
them. Much of this issue was finalized by
MT staff working from home.
Thankfully, we live in a deeply
connected world where many businesses
can function without staff or customers on
the premises, one where new products can
be unveiled before a virtual audience and
spread globally across the internet in real
time. As such, we can continue to bring you
both the latest car news and everything
that would’ve premiered in Geneva both
here and at MotorTrend.com.WORDS SCOTT EVANS *CANCELED DUE TO COVID-12 MOTORTREND.COM JUNE 2020