Chinese car manufacturers set to dominate 2024 Geneva car show

Signs suggest that the forthcoming car show in Geneva, slated for Spring 2024, might be dominated by manufacturers from China. Most major Western corporations appear to be opting out of participating in this world-renowned event.

After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic and a relocated edition in Qatar last October, the iconic Geneva car show is finally returning. The Geneva International Motor Show will take place from February 26 to March 3, 2024.

According to German outlets Automobilwoche and auto-motor-und-sport.de, most driving exhibitors to date are declining to participate in the trade show. This will mark the longest list of major absentees the show has ever seen. The following big names won't be unveiling their latest offerings in Geneva:

• Aston Martin,
• Audi,
• BMW,
• Ferrari,
• Hyundai,
• Jaguar,
• Lamborghini,
• Land Rover,
• Mercedes-Benz,
• Mitsubishi,
• Nissan,
• Porsche,
• Seat and Cupra,
• Subaru,
• Skoda,
• Volkswagen.

Brand representatives attribute their decisions to various reasons but generally indicate that their withdrawal only applies to next year's iteration of the event. They haven't ruled out future participation. Opinions abound that as of now, brands favor directing funds toward their own event formats and bolstering social media presence. That isn't to suggest they lack announcements; 2024 should be a year rich in novelties. Nevertheless, for some time, the significance of grand fairs has been waning, and new models are frequently unveiled at their respective car company's congresses.

The participation of Stellantis group brands is uncertain, implying that visitors may miss out on Alfa Romeo, Citroen, DS, Peugeot, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, and Opel. Carlos Tavares, the conglomerate's CEO, has previously voiced his reservations about allocating millions to such events.

So, who will be exhibiting at Geneva's salon? As of now, only Renault, a major manufacturer, has confirmed its attendance, slated to unveil the production version of the new fully electric "Five". The organizers expect that Chinese manufacturers will seize the opportunities from the vacancies – they are in dialogue with 20 brands, so the representation could potentially outweigh the showing last September at Munich's IAA Mobility.

Chinese manufacturers seem eager to make their mark. Already in 2023, we saw the advent of their expansion into critical European markets, including Poland, and this trend is anticipated to intensify in 2024. However, among the Geely conglomerate, two significant European brands, Volvo and Polestar, will be absent in Geneva. Still, this won't be the first time that Chinese cars have been paraded at Geneva's car show. In past years, brands such as Aiways, Arcfox, Borgward (a resurrected German brand under Chinese ownership), DR (often mistaken as Italian), and Qoros have been showcased.