The organizers of the Geneva auto present and representatives from Qatar Tourism introduced plans to host a Center East model of the occasion in Doha, Qatar’s capital, in autumn 2023.

The Qatar present shall be held on the at Doha Exhibition and Conference Middle and can happen each two years, whereas the Geneva present will proceed to happen yearly.

The Qatar occasion is prone to exchange the Qatar auto present, though that call has not but been finalized, Sandro Mesquita, CEO of the Geneva Worldwide Motor Present (GIMS), advised Automotive Information Europe in a phone interview on Wednesday.

Mesquita mentioned there are loads of auto followers in Center East nations, giving the present the chance to increase internationally, and “there’s big potential when it comes to promoting within the areas.”

“I can guarantee you the automobile present in Doha won’t be targeted solely on conventional engines however shall be a method to promote new applied sciences corresponding to hydrogen and EVs within the area,” he mentioned.

He mentioned the “concrete possibility” at this level is an autumn 2023 launch for the Doha present, however added it stays an choice to presumably have a “smooth launch” in autumn 2022.

Mesquita additionally highlighted the significance of creating a transparent goal for the Doha present, saying the Center East occasion wouldn’t be a “copycat” of the Geneva present, however fairly would develop its personal idea and positioning.

“Now we have began work on that this week,” he mentioned. “It has not but been outlined, however we’ve got to face out and have a transparent goal, as a result of manufacturers are searching for platforms that may present them with a return on funding and the automakers won’t be a part of us if they don’t see that.”

Mesquita additionally mentioned that the pandemic has accelerated the digital shift throughout commerce exhibits of every kind. He mentioned digital instruments shall be used to increase the attain of the GIMS occasions and supply new experiences that convey collectively the digital and the bodily.

“We’ll use the experiences in Geneva to copy that hybrid sort of conference expertise in Doha, nevertheless, these are simply instruments to assist the influence and efficiency of the present. What’s extra essential is to have a transparent positioning,” Mesquita mentioned. “We’ll develop synergies between the 2 exhibits, however they are going to be completely different as a result of we’re focusing on completely different teams and areas.”

He pointed to the upcoming Munich IAA for instance of an auto present that’s shifting its focus, on this case to 1 targeted on basic mobility, which he mentioned already helps differentiate the GIMS exhibition.

“We’re specializing in the automotive sector. We wish to turn into the voice of the trade, and so we are going to hold vehicles on the core,” Mesquita mentioned. “Nevertheless, we additionally must be firmly within the current and sooner or later, so we are going to combine into the present the ecosystems across the automotive sector which are not directly and instantly affecting the auto trade.”

The Geneva exhibits that ought to have taken place this yr and in 2020 had been canceled due to the continuing pandemic.

The subsequent Geneva present is scheduled to happen Feb. 19-27, 2022. Organizers will disclose extra details about the present on Sept. 17.

“Based mostly on the variety of exhibitor confirmations thus far,’ Mesquita mentioned, “I’m assured that the [2022] present will occur.”