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French Court Strikes Down Mercedes Ban
France's highest administrative court has overturned the country's three-month-old ban on the sale of new Mercedes-Benz cars that don't use an environmentally friendly refrigerant mandated by the EU.
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France's highest administrative court has overturned the country's three-month-old ban on the sale of new Mercedes-Benz cars that don't use an environmentally friendly refrigerant mandated by the EU.
Under a temporary order, France must resume registration of Mercedes CLA, SL and A- and B-Class models within two days. The court plans to rule later on the legality of the country's actions.
The EU has required the new fluid, R1234yf, since Jan. 1. But Mercedes parent Daimler AG refused to switch, citing its own tests that found that the substance could catch fire and form poisonous fumes. Because numerous tests by others have declared the coolant safe, the EU denied the company's request to delay implementing the new rule.
Daimler continues to use R134a, the former industry standard, which has a much higher global warming potential. Since France imposed its ban in mid-June, Mercedes sales there have plunged 25%. The company, which sold nearly 66,000 vehicles in the country last year, says the ban has prevented the delivery of more than 5,200 units.
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