In view of the current restrictions in connection with COVID-19, the organizers of Auto Zürich decided today to postpone the upcoming event, originally planned for 14 to 18 April 2021, to 4 to 7 November 2021.
The preparation time thus gained will be used to realize a completely new exhibition concept that will set contemporary standards in terms of quality, sustainability and protection of exhibitors and visitors.
Despite the current restrictions, the aim of the organizers is to build on the remarkable successes of 2019 (10% increase in spectator numbers and 44 world and Swiss premieres). Exhibitors can book without risk: If the event cannot take place in November 2021 due to federal requirements directly related to COVID-19, contracts will be canceled free of charge.
For the organizers of Auto Zürich, this decision was anything but easy, as it is so urgently necessary to offer automotive 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 2021, Auto Zürich will be the largest automotive event in Switzerland. This circumstance is an obligation for the organizers to significantly increase the performance of this format once again in the interests of the exhibitors.
Despite the current challenges, the organizers also look back on the results of Auto Zürich in November 2019 with pride and pleasure: it successfully bucked a supposed trend according to which the automobile exhibition 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.
One particular attraction at the time was the newly created Classic Hall, which delighted the public.
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 pronounced awareness that bookings can be accompanied by concerns about financial losses in the event of the event being canceled.
The organizers therefore provide the following protection: If the event cannot take place due to federal requirements directly related to COVID-19, all bookings will be canceled free of charge and any advance payments already made will be refunded in full.
Otherwise, exhibitors and visitors may be assured that all necessary hygiene and safety measures in relation to COVID-19 will be implemented.
The Auto Zürich team is now accepting bookings. The relevant documents can be found on the Auto Zürich website.
