Mexican Media Brands
French Court Overturns Ban on Mercedes-Benz Sales
France's Conseil d'Etat has rejected the government's ban last year on the sale of Mercedes-Benz cars equipped with an air-conditioning refrigerant outlawed by the EU.
#regulations
Share
France's Conseil d'Etat has rejected the government's ban last year on the sale of Mercedes-Benz cars equipped with an air-conditioning refrigerant outlawed by the EU.
The ruling finalizes the temporary injunction the court issued last August. The earlier ruling blocked the government's two-month-old quarantine on Mercedes A-, B- and CLA-Class sedans and SL sport coupes.
France issued the ban after Daimler refused to stop using R124a refrigerant and switch to a far "greener" material as required by the EU. The government said it was merely carrying out the EU's directive to require all manufacturers to switch to a new refrigerant by Jan. 1, 2013.
But Daimler questioned the safety of the only immediate alternative, R1234yf, and said it would develop a carbon dioxide-based air-conditioning system by 2017. The Conseil d'Etat ruled that the banned Mercedes vehicles had not been proven a significant threat to the environment.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Carmakers Ask 10 States to Help Bolster EV Sales
Carmakers are asking for more support for electric cars from states that support California’s zero-emission-vehicle goals, Automotive News reports.
-
Feds Probe Another Tesla Crash Involving Autopilot Feature
Federal investigators are looking into another crash involving a Tesla Model S electric sedan that was operating in semi-autonomous mode.
-
China Targets 7 Million Annual NEV Sales by 2025
The Chinese government is targeting annual sales of electric and plug-in cars at 7 million units by 2025—nine times last year’s volume.