Photo: Daimler AG
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Daimler AG won a ruling from the highest administrative court in France to resume sales of its A-Class, B-Class, CLA and SL-Class on Hexagon turf.
As you all probably know by now, the German manufacturer decided not to use a new air conditioning coolant for the aforementioned four models after determining that it may pose a fire hazard in the event of a car crash.
As a reaction, the Ministry of Ecology, Development and Energy of France blocked new registrations of the Mercedes-Benz models way back in July, citing the use of older ac refrigerators instead of the new EU-proposed one is violating the European Union's environmental rules.
Yesterday's court verdict is restoring access to the French market for the A-Class, B-Class, CLA and the SL Roadster, a market where it had managed to sell 15,745 units of the said models in the first six months of 2013. The refrigerant saga had been going one for months on end until this decision, so hot-hatch lovers from France are probably excited about finally getting a piece of the hottest one around, the A 45 AMG.
We don't have any further info about what the French government's next step will be, but we do have a personal and probably crazy idea about the reasons behind the sales ban.
As a reaction, the Ministry of Ecology, Development and Energy of France blocked new registrations of the Mercedes-Benz models way back in July, citing the use of older ac refrigerators instead of the new EU-proposed one is violating the European Union's environmental rules.
Yesterday's court verdict is restoring access to the French market for the A-Class, B-Class, CLA and the SL Roadster, a market where it had managed to sell 15,745 units of the said models in the first six months of 2013. The refrigerant saga had been going one for months on end until this decision, so hot-hatch lovers from France are probably excited about finally getting a piece of the hottest one around, the A 45 AMG.
We don't have any further info about what the French government's next step will be, but we do have a personal and probably crazy idea about the reasons behind the sales ban.
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