Geneva Motor Show: BMW to Volvo, Audi to VW . . . But Geneva Girls make the show

The International Geneva Motor Show (Salon International de l’Auto in French), held annually in March in the Geneva, Switzerland, is renowned for several reasons. It’s now 80 years old, it usually features more debuting cars than any other international car show. And the show is held on a “level playing field” Switzerland doesn’t have a native auto industry.

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, more than 80 cars, the 2011 Audi A1 to the 2011 Volvo S60 and the 2011 BMW 5 Series to the 2011 Volkswagen Sharan, made their debut.

The Geneva Motor Show is hosted at the Geneva Palexpo, a convention center located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport and is organised by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles.

First held in 1905, in the Geneva Motor Show has hosted almost all major internal combustion engined models in the history of the automobile, along with benzene- and steam-powered cars from the beginning of the century.

Exotic supercars often steal the spotlight during their debuts at the show. Prototypes, new equipment, technical breakthroughs, international partnerships, as well as political and social debates, have been announced at the show.

Despite its lack its own automobiles, the Geneva Motor Show has no inferiority issues when it comes to an auto show tradition. Like its legacy, debut status and neutrality of site, the Geneva Motor Show is renowned for its beautiful fashion models. Geneva Girls has a nice ring to it.

The 201o Geneva Motor Show continues through March 14.