The Geneva Motor Show has opened its doors for the first time in five years – running from 26 February to 3 March. The event last took place in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic forced organisers to cancel the 2020 expo just days before the punters were due to fly in. Now Geneva is back, but not quite as we know it.
Compared with previous occasions, the 2024 Geneva Motor Show will be an altogether more modest affair; just four major manufacturers are in attendance. We’ve seen big debuts from Dacia, Renault and MG, while fellow Chinese powerhouse BYD will use the event to announce cars like the Seal U plug-in hybrid and Land Rover-rivalling Yangwang U8 for the European market.
Other launches are planned, from the likes of Lucid – a US luxury electric car maker – and Silence, which is an electric mobility company fronted by ex-Jaguar Land Rover executive John Edwards. Read on for all you need to know about the big new car reveals.
Geneva Motor Show 2024: live gallery
Click on the image below to view all our pictures from the 2024 Geneva Motor Show…
Geneva Motor Show 2024: car brands A to Z
Below are details of the major brands attending Geneva this year and what they are up to…
BYD
BYD means business. Already selling more cars than Volkswagen in its home market of China, the brand arrived in the UK and Europe last year and has already launched three distinct models.
Now it’s looking to bolster its presence with the launch of its first non-EV to come to Europe – the plug-in hybrid BYD Seal U. We’ve already driven the Skoda Kodiaq-rivalling SUV, and came away impressed by the newcomer’s breadth of talents. If the price is right, it could really throw the cat amongst the pigeons in the electrified family-car segment.
In addition to the Seal U, BYD is using the 2024 Geneva Motor Show to bring its Yangwang luxury sub-brand to Europe, showing off the Land Rover Defender-inspired U8 electric SUV. The Yangwang U8’s party piece is a tank turn function that allows the huge off-roader to rotate on its axis by spinning the wheels in opposite directions.
Dacia
Dacia has made waves in Europe in recent years with its refreshing, value-focused approach to building cars. But until now it has resisted selling its bargain Spring electric car in the UK. However, last week, the maker pulled the covers off an all-new version, with the city car making its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week.
With it comes confirmation that it’ll be sold in the UK for the first time later this year. It’s heavily upgraded from the original, which should suit British tastes; apparently, the only carry-over panel is the roof.
It also gets upgraded technology inside, a respectable 130-mile range and optional 30kW rapid charging. The big stat is the price tag, though, as the Spring is likely to cost around £16,000 – finally an electric car for the masses.
IM
MG’s premium electric sister brand, IM Motors, confirmed it is coming to the UK at Geneva this year. The first car to hit our shores will be the IM L6 saloon, a Tesla Model 3 rival that the brand claims will be able to cover up to almost 500 miles on a single charge of its 100kWh battery.
The L6 will also be available with a smaller 77kWh pack, which should still be good for an impressive 372 miles. When it comes to performance, this saloon is set to sprint from 0-62mph in around 3 seconds. Expect a starting price of £40k when it arrives in the UK in the first half of 2025.
Lucid
Lucid doesn’t currently sell cars in the UK, though you can buy a car in mainland Europe. However, the American EV maker is set to double its available range by giving its second model – the Gravity SUV – its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Lucid Gravity is a huge seven-seat electric SUV with a 120kWh battery that its maker says is capable of over 400 miles on a charge. We’ll need to hold out a little longer to learn of any UK relevance, but the Swiss show will be the first opportunity to see the car on European soil.
MG
Much like Dacia, MG has played the value card in recent years – and with great success. But while the manufacturer’s range of EVs is challenging the electric-car status quo, it’s also looking to shake things up with the hybrid-powered MG3 supermini at the Geneva show.
Following a series of teaser images and even a couple of leaked pictures showing the car in full, the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris rival has now been revealed to the public. With this, we’ve been given details on the new car’s powertrain, which is a full hybrid set-up capable of up to 64mpg. It’ll be no slouch either; the MG3 has 192bhp, allegedly giving it warm-hatch levels of performance.
Renault
It feels like we’ve been waiting forever to see the reborn Renault 5. But fear not, the teasing is now over – the covers came off the French brand’s retro-inspired small car at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show.
It’s designed to look a lot like the original Renault 5, and will take the fight to class stalwarts like the electric Fiat 500 and MINI Cooper. The 5 will be based on the next-generation Nissan Micra and Leaf, and share is platform with the forthcoming Renault 4.
But in contrast to its retro looks, it’ll get a cutting edge powertrain and a choice of batteries – the biggest of which Renault claims will do 249 miles on a charge. Weighing in at less than 1,500kg, it should be pretty efficient and perfectly suited to the cut and thrust of city living.
It’s definitely up there on the list of cars we’re most looking forward to driving in 2024.
Silence
More of a Citroen Ami-rivalling quadricycle than a proper car, Silence will bring the S04 to Geneva – attempting to make a splash in the “nano car” segment. There’s plenty of Brit brainpower behind the venture, with ex-JLR man John Edwards a founding partner of the EV brand, and there’s even rumours Silence tech could underpin SEAT’s new baby EV due in the next few years.
The S04 is actually already available to buy (from £15,995) in the UK, but the Geneva show will give punters a chance to get hands-on with the Dacia Spring alternative, which is also on show just around the corner.
Which car stole the show at Geneva this year? Let us know in the comments…
