Mercedes-Benz says it has started delivery of its previously-blocked models in France, following the temporary lifting of their ban by the Council of State Court.
The ruling frees up the automaker to allow customers to take delivery of around 5,000 A, B, CLA and SL models, following the bitter row surrounding Mercedes’ use of the r134a refrigerant as opposed to the lower-polluting r1234yf alternative.
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“It [block] was only a registration stop,” a Mercedes-Benz spokesman told just-auto from Germany. “All the cars were delivered to the dealers.
“The cars were at the dealerships and stored somewhere – it was not a sales ban. We are very happy for our customers and dealers that based on this decision, they can start delivering vehicles to customers as soon as possible.”
The news comes after intense wrangling between Mercedes and the French Transport Ministry, which opposed use of the r134a refrigerant due to what many maintain is its polluting nature, but even despite the favourable judgement, the German automaker is now dependent on a further ruling from the Conseil d’Etat.
“It is a preliminary decision and without a time limit,” said the Mercedes spokesman. “So until further notice, this decision is valid.
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By GlobalData“We requested a hearing for a preliminary injunction. The Court acknowledged for us it was very important to have a quick answer.”
News of the Mercedes certification will not only allow the considerable backlog to be shifted, but also provide a greater degree of job security to the 11,000 staff working in French Mercedes dealerships.
It had been feared up to 1,500 dealership staff were at risk from partial redundancy as the saga dragged on, but the Groupement des Distributeurs et Reparateurs confirmed registration was now under way.
“There [have been] very few cancellations, not much at all,” the dealer association president, Jean-Claude Bernard, told just-auto last week.
The [Conseil d’Etat] decision has not surprised us at all – the French State can not do otherwise.”
