2022 Beijing Auto Show faces serious COVID threat

There are fears that the much publicised Beijing Auto Show may either be postponed or cancelled outright following the resurgence of COVID in the host city of China.

Just over two years ago, humanity was dealt a rather undesirable set of cards as the pandemic brought the entire world to a standstill. The contagious virus crept across the globe like an itchy blanket. Life as we knew it came to an end, with events such as auto shows relegated to a pre-COVID past.

As many other nations seem to be returning to normality, motoring-related events have made a comeback. For example, the New York Auto Show is set to commence in April, after an unfortunate two-year pause.

But due to a sharp uptick of coronavirus cases in China, the 2022 Beijing Auto Show is expected to be cancelled.

Automotive News China quoted insiders as telling the publication that plans were afoot to postpone the biennial auto show. Local press coverage points to rescheduling in June. China is currently battling the biggest wave of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic was first discovered. As such, lockdown and public safety measures have been enforced, effectively banning gatherings of large crowds.

The reasons behind the potential cancellation are logical but still disappointing. The eagerly awaited BMW i7 and new 7 Series were set to debut at the Beijing Auto Show. However, the Munich-based automaker could use next month’s NY Auto Show to reveal the new 7 range. Rivals Mercedes-Benz was set to show off its EQS electric SUV at the Chinese expo and will now have to make alternate plans.

Ironically, while most motor shows were being canceled in 2020, the Beijing Auto Show went ahead as planned.

With the world’s motoring press and gearheads unable to travel to China, some manufacturers set up clever ways for people to still experience the show while in government-mandated lockdowns. Porsche offered a virtual tour of its Beijing stand, allowing you to effectively experience its new models through your smartphone or computer.

If the 2022 Beijing Auto Show is canceled, we hope it is postponed to a later date in the year as China is fast becoming carmakers’ most important market.

-Carbuzz