Was scheduled to take place from October 6 to 11 this year
Biennial motorcycle trade show attracts thousands of visitors
Digital Intermot news stream to go live towards the end of 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has forced organisers of the Intermot motorcycle trade show to cancel the 2020 edition of the biennial event, which was scheduled to take place in Cologne, Germany, from October 6-11, 2020.
In a press statement, the organisers said that "An event that depends on its appeal as an experience cannot be held in this form at this point in time and thus does not meet the expectations and needs of the industry."
The Intermot is a major event and attracts thousands of visitors on all days of the show. With many people gathered in halls with limited space, it is impossible to meet social distancing norms and other COVID-19 related health and safety guidelines issued by the local authorities. While a number of European nations, including Germany, have eased lockdowns to quite an extent, holding an event of the scale like Intermot could give rise to fears of a second wave.
The other reason behind pulling the plug on this year's event is the economic impact on motorcycle manufacturers across the globe. The pandemic has caused sales to plummet and companies such as Triumph Motorcycles have also been forced to cut jobs. In the midst of financial constraints, it would've been difficult for manufacturers to participate in the event. However, Intermot is working on a digital format of the event, in order to support its partners. The digital Intermot news stream, scheduled to run by the end of 2020, will serve as a communication platform for the motorcycle community.
The Intermot motor show will return in 2022 and organisers are looking to boost the on-site experience with greater digital reach.
With the Intermot 2020 being cancelled, we wait to see what happens to another major motorcycle show, the EICMA that's held in Italy. For now, the organisers plan to go ahead with the event that is supposed to begin on November 5, 2020. However, with big names like KTM and BMW Motorrad pulling out of this year's EICMA and the possibility of more manufacturers following suit, the fate of the event for this year hangs in the balance.