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
-
Toyota Targets 2021 Launch for V2V Tech in U.S.
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to expand its vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology to the U.S. by 2021 and offer it across most Toyota and Lexus models in the country by mid-decade.
-
Flawed Fuel Tank Flanges Could Trigger Massive Recalls
Fuel tank flanges that may crack, leak and cause a fire could prompt at least eight carmakers to recall millions of vehicles.
-
Study: How States Should Update Traffic Laws for Autonomous Cars
U.S. states should require that all automated cars have a licensed driver on board, suggests a study by the Governors Highway Safety Assn.