Mercedes dealers in France say the decision by the country’s highest Court to formally overturn a sales ban last year concerning the automaker’s A, B, CLA and SL models, represents the “end of the story,” domestically.

The contentious registration suspension last year by France’s ecology ministry in protest at Mercedes insistence on using the r134y refrigerant instead of less-polluting r1234yf alternatives manufactured by Honeywell and Dupont, saw around 5,000 vehicles prevented from being delivered, but the Conseil d’Etat has now officially poured cold water on the ban.

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Last year the Conseil d’Etat or Council of State – France’s highest court – temporarily lifted the stoppage but a judgement this week has formalised the situation – to the relief of dealers although the ruling may still not be the end of the matter.

“There was a decision of the Conseil d’Etat which confirmed the decision in July,” Groupement des Distributeurs et Reparateurs president, Jean-Claude Bernard, representing all Mercedes dealers in France and 11,000 staff, told just-auto from the eastern city of Dijon.

“Everything is finish[ed] – I think it is the end of the story on the French level but perhaps not on the level of the European Commission.” [EC]

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In January this year, commission authorities launched the first steps of an infringement procedure against Germany for its supposed non-compliance with the Mobile Air Conditioning Directive (MAC).

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Despite that development, Mercedes continues to maintain there is a potential fire hazard in certain conditions using the Honeywell and Dupont-mandated r1234yf refrigerant, a position both chemical producers strongly refute.

Last year, around 1,500 Mercedes retail staff faced potential redundancy as the blockade concerning France’s objection to the manufacturer’s use of the r134a coolant became ever more stringent, but this week’s news finally makes the Council of State’s decision concrete.

“It was good news yesterday,” said Bernard. “It was a relief because for us things are now completely closed. There were around 5,000 cars blocked for around eight weeks.

“For the moment, Daimler is continuing its delivery [ies] in exactly the same cycle as before. It is the first time it has ever happened in France.”

In a statement yesterday (6 May), Honeywell noted: “The safe use of HFO-1234yf has been proven repeatedly through comprehensive tests and evaluations conducted by third-party experts, including most recently by the JRC [Joint Research Centre], which provides independent scientific and technical advice to the EC to broadly support policy-setting activities.”