France bans top end Mercs...

[A Scotsman]

Just spotted this on Twitter..

French ban on Mercedes cars provokes German fury - FT.com

A ban by France’s socialist government on the registration of several top-end Mercedes-Benz models has infuriated the German luxury carmaker and forced Brussels to step in to try to defuse the...

This is the link but I don't have an FT account..

http://t.co/CfQfY1SS7w

[Laurel Green]

Down to the Euro ban on refrigerant used apparently.

anirudhsethireport said:

Sales of thousands of the most prestigious Mercedes cars have been halted in France since Paris last month refused to allow the registration of four new models that include a refrigerant in their air-conditioning systems that has been banned by the EU on environmental grounds.

Clicky

[Barry38]

Really shows what strong "union" that European union is.

[Engineer1]

Or that the likes of Merc haven't kept up with EU legislation.

[skyrover]

Flawed legislation some might argue.

Mercedes refuses to comply on safety grounds after it conducted its own tests and found the new refrigerant to be a fire hazard.

[Pints]

picelery said:

I want to know why

Why what?
Why the French banned top-end Mercs?
Why the EU banned the AC refrigerant?
Why Merc continues to use the banned refrigerant?
Why the new refrigerant catches fire?

You need to be more specific.

[XJ Flyer]

Pints said:

picelery said:

I want to know why

Why what?
Why the French banned top-end Mercs?
Why the EU banned the AC refrigerant?
Why Merc continues to use the banned refrigerant?
Why the new refrigerant catches fire?

You need to be more specific.

It doesn't sound right.Why would Mercedes be using a different type of refrigerant in the ac of it's top end models to that used in the lower level ones and if so then all they'd need to do is to use ac plants which are compatible with the right stuff for the French.

I'm guessing it's yet more socialist bs just like the 130 kmh limit being enforced by the full might of the French police force.Maybe it's time the Germans invaded the place and took over the French government,close down Renault/Peugeot/Citroen,and remove the speed limits on French autoroutes,this time we stay at home and let them get on with it,everyone's a winner.

[Laurel Green]

Pints said:

picelery said:

I want to know why

Why what?
Why the French banned top-end Mercs?
Why the EU banned the AC refrigerant?
Why Merc continues to use the banned refrigerant?
Why the new refrigerant catches fire?

You need to be more specific.

Not the best of first posts.

Anyway, welcome to PH, Picelery.

[jaynana]

my 'firstish' post then, a bit of common sense really..

the french manufacturers are loosing market share to the Germans. the french govt must be under pressure to act. they must be on the lookout for any possible action - nothing much they can do as per EU trading laws.

in that context comes the EU law on R134a. i'm sure its more hazardous, but that's not the issue. the ban also comes into play only in 2017 for pre-existing models.

i guess the models in question 'pre-existed' as per german manufactures lobbying to the KBA (on the german side of the fence, a ban would have delayed the sale of those cars..)!

so the KBA allowed the use of R134a; matter was being discussed with the EU authorities; French saw an oppty to safeguard their industry and acted on it!

hope that's reasonable for a 'newish' post lol

[trashbat]

What product do the French manufacturers have in that segment? i.e. if you can't buy an A class, I don't suppose you're going to a Megane.

[ClaphamGT3]

Sounds like the French motor industry turning the thumb screws on the Govt to me.

We're in France 5-6 times a year and see more and more German registered cars all the time. Peugeot/Citroen and Renault have big lobbying power and are clearly acting

[talksthetorque]

perhaps the proletariat think that having the captains of French industry drive around in a peugeot will make them realise how badly they treat their minions.

[jaynana]

where do Peugeot/Citroen apply the knowledge gained in WRC i wonder..

[cirian75]

short version

EU mandates new French made eco friendly refrigerant gas, to be only gas to use in cars sold in the EU

Merc tests new French made refrigerant gas, finds it to more flammable than the old ones

Merc makes a new better refrigerant gas that is eco friendly too, and does not catch fire as easy as new French made refrigerant gas.

France not interested in silly German safety tests results and concerns, bans Merc cars with new gas.

Edited by cirian75 on Sunday 1st September 11:53

[Laurel Green]

Meanwhile, cars continue running around with highly flammable fuel!

[trashbat]

cirian75 said:

short version

EU mandates new French made eco friendly refrigerant gas, to be only gas to use in cars sold in the EU

Merc tests new French made refrigerant gas, finds it to more flammable than the old ones

Merc makes a new better refrigerant gas that is eco friendly too, and does not catch fire as easy as new French made refrigerant gas.

France not interested in silly German safety tests results and concerns, bans Merc cars with new gas.

Edited by cirian75 on Sunday 1st September 11:53

The bit in bold's not correct, AFAIK - feel free to correct me though.

AFAIK Mercedes are still using the old gas, R134a.

Either way the ban has been overturned by a French court.

[jbsportstech]

cirian75 said:

short version

EU mandates new French made eco friendly refrigerant gas, to be only gas to use in cars sold in the EU

Merc tests new French made refrigerant gas, finds it to more flammable than the old ones

Merc makes a new better refrigerant gas that is eco friendly too, and does not catch fire as easy as new French made refrigerant gas.

France not interested in silly German safety tests results and concerns, bans Merc cars with new gas.

Edited by cirian75 on Sunday 1st September 11:53

I like>

Also add early indications show that the gas classified as R134A is used in 95% of cars in france! Why only ban mercs #cause there german!