Mercedes-Benz says discussions are still taking place between the European Commission (EC) and the German government following the recent decision by France’s highest Court to allow certification of the automaker’s previously banned models.
The Council of State temporarily lifted the blockade on Mercedes’ A, B, CLA and SL models using the r134a refrigerant, as opposed to the lower-polluting r1234yf alternative variant.
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Mercedes-Benz requested a preliminary injunction at the Paris Court, but the issue is still live, with a further judgement expected and a battery of scientists from the German road safety authority (KBA) and the EC’s own experts, continuing to evaluate the situation.
“The European Commission – they are still in discussions with the German government and the Ministry of Transportation, in order to find a compromise about the vehicles,” a Mercedes spokesman told just-auto.
“In total 4,500 vehicles were affected and we [have] started to deliver them and we [will] continue in September.”
The banned models had already been delivered to France, but were subject to a registration stop by the French Transport Ministry, which maintains r134a is more polluting, while Mercedes counters r1234yf can be flammable in certain conditions.
The impasse could potentially have seen around 1,500 dealership staff move to partial redundancy, according to the Groupement des Distributeurs et Reparateurs in France.
However, the organisation’s president, Jean-Claude Bernard recently told just-auto that despite the uncertainty, there had been “very few cancellations.”
