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France Lifts Refrigerant Ban on Mercedes Cars
A high court in France has overturned the country's ban on Mercedes-Benz vehicles that continue to use an air-conditioning refrigerant banned by the European Union since January.
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A high court in France has overturned the country's ban on Mercedes-Benz vehicles that continue to use an air-conditioning refrigerant banned by the European Union since January.
The temporary ruling orders France to resume registering new Mercedes CLA, SL and A- and B-Class cars within two days. The court says it will rule later on the legality of the country's three-month-old ban.
The controversy began earlier this year when Daimler refused to switch from R134a refrigerant to the "greener" R1234yf fluid as required by the EU. Daimler said its own lab tests showed that the new fluid could burn and form toxic fumes if exposed to flame.
The EU denied Daimler's request to delay the new standard, pointing to numerous tests by others that have declared R1234yf safe. The EU also said it might bring sanctions against member countries that failed to enforce the refrigerant directive.
France began banning most Mercedes-Benz sales in June. Mercedes says its sales there have since dropped 25%, blocking the delivery of more than 5,200 vehicles.
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