BEIJING — Organizers of the Beijing auto show, which was scheduled to be held in late April, said the event would be held between Sept. 26 and Oct. 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Several other auto shows globally have been canceled or postponed due to the outbreak, including those in Detroit, Geneva, New York and Sao Paulo. The Beijing show was to be held April 21-30. Organizers had said in February that it would be postponed but no new date was given.
In light of the “serious challenges” from the coronavirus outbreak the show is being postponed ”to effectively protect the health and safety of exhibitors and spectators,” organizers said in a statement, on Friday.
The epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak was in Hubei province, China, where the city of Wuhan is home to many automotive factories. Plants there were closed for around two months starting in January after the area was placed on a near-total lockdown. The Chinese auto market is stirring to life again, but fears of a second wave of coronavirus continue as areas are reopened to commerce and movement.
Since it started in 1990, the Beijing show has become one of the world’s largest automotive trade fairs. It’s a key launching pad for new product for the world’s biggest auto market. The Beijing show is held every two years and alternates with a similar event in Shanghai.
At the 2018 show, companies including VW, Audi, BMW, Ford and Mercedes-Benz held key product launches.