One of China’s major auto shows, Auto Guangzhou, has announced that it will postpone its 2022 show as a result of “widespread and frequent” COVID-19 infection in the city. Although the organizers said they are only “postponing” the event, no new date for the show was indicated.
Auto Guangzhou 2022 was initially supposed to take place from November 18-27. As a new wave of COVID-19 infections emerges, though, China’s strict containment strategy has come into effect once again.
“In order to fully cooperate with and implement the epidemic prevention and control requirements of the state and the Guangzhou municipal government, effectively ensure exhibitors’ physical health and public health safety as well as good exhibition results, we, the Organizing Committee of AUTO GUANGZHOU 2022, have decided to postpone the auto show,” the show’s organizers wrote in a statement.
Read: Nio Suspends Production At Two Plants As COVID Cases Rise In China
Kyodo News reports that 200 million citizens in 28 cities across China have come under some form of lockdown since October 24. China’s aggressive strategy for combating the spread of the virus has been accused of being overbearing by many and has caused numerous disruptions since the pandemic first struck.
Previous waves of infections and consequent lockdowns led to delays at plants for automakers such as Tesla, Volkswagen, Toyota, and others. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio announced earlier this week that production at two of its plants in Hefei, roughly 745 miles (1,200 km) north of Guangzhou, had been paused.
A number of automakers will likely be affected by the postponement of Auto Guangzhou 2022. The production-spec Toyota bZ3 was supposed to make its debut at the show, as was the MG Cyberster, an all-electric roadster with a possible 497 miles (800 km) of range. The latter’s unveiling was already delayed, however, due to fears that the show might be postponed.
