The organizers of Auto Zürich and Auto Zürich Classic have today decided to postpone the upcoming event, originally planned for 5 to 8 November 2020, by six months to 14 - 18 April 2021. The aim of the organizers is to build on the remarkable successes of 2019 (10% increase in spectators and 44 world and Swiss premieres) despite the current restrictions.
In view of the losses suffered by Swiss car importers and their respective trade organizations in 2020, the upcoming Auto Zürich will act more strongly than ever as a sales fair. Exhibitors can book without risk: if the event cannot take place in April 2021 due to federal requirements directly related to Covid-19, contracts will be canceled free of charge.
Difficult decision
For the organizers of Auto Zürich, this decision was anything but easy, given the urgency of the situation,
to offer car importers and their trade organizations every opportunity for a recovery path and to work together towards a sustainable restart in the post-Covid-19 era. After careful consideration and extensive consultation with experts, the organizers have come to the conclusion that Auto Zürich cannot do this with the necessary protection over the next six months. In fact, Auto Zürich will be the largest automotive event in Switzerland in 2021, as the Geneva Motor Show will not take place. This circumstance is an obligation for the organizers to significantly increase the performance of this format once again for the benefit of the exhibitors.
Great success in 2019
Despite the current challenges, the organizers also look back on the results of Auto Zürich in November 2019 with pride and pleasure: the event successfully bucked a supposed trend according to which the motor show format was generally seen to be on the decline. This is evidenced by the increase in visitor numbers by around 10 percent to 60,000 and the record number of 44 world and Swiss premieres. The new Classic Hall also contributed to this success.
The organizers see this as an obligation to be able to offer all exhibitors a correspondingly successful platform in 2021 as well. In view of the current market situation, the primary goal for the upcoming edition of Auto Zürich is to build up the momentum that will be necessary to live up to its status as Switzerland's largest public automotive event. For this reason, vehicle sales will take center stage at Auto Zürich more than ever before.
Even if the current signs regarding the feasibility of Auto Zürich in April 2021 are good, the organizers are not closing their eyes to the fact that there is still some uncertainty among potential exhibitors. In this context, there is a strong awareness that bookings can be accompanied by concerns about financial losses if the event is canceled.
Money-back guarantee in the event of cancellation
The organizers therefore offer the following protection: If the event cannot take place due to federal government restrictions directly related to Covid-19, all bookings will be cancelled free of charge and any advance payments already made will be refunded in full.
Otherwise, exhibitors and visitors can be assured that all necessary hygiene and safety measures in relation to Covid-19 will be implemented.
Further information can be found on the Auto Zürich website.
