[booker]

EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani handed France succour and Mercedes concern.
Ahead of potentially heated talks on Wednesday among Euro experts in Brussels, Tajani said that "preliminary" European Commission analysis had decided France was entitled to block the sale of cars that do not conform.

"Currently, in the European market, there are vehicles produced by this manufacturer [Mercedes] that, according to the preliminary Commission analysis, are not in conformity with their type-approval," Tajani said. "Non-conform vehicles cannot be sold or registered in the European Union".

Since January 1, EU regs demand car makers use a refrigerant called R1234yf, Mercedes is sticking with R134a in the A, B and CLA-class vehicles.

Germany has until August 20 to answer queries from the European Commission, Brussels has another 10 weeks afterwards to decide on formal legal action.

 

[fastlane]

Can't they just convert the system and make things easier lol

 

[booker]

Can't they just convert the system and make things easier lol

I believe old wounds are smarting here. Plus Mercedes has conducted independent tests of the new freeon and found it has higher potential to ignite during a collision

 

[mr.smith]

Seems like a large problem that could be solved pretty easily by just conforming to standards. You'd expect a high-class brand like Mercedes to have no trouble conforming to standards too.

 

[fastlane]

Seems like a large problem that could be solved pretty easily by just conforming to standards. You'd expect a high-class brand like Mercedes to have no trouble conforming to standards too.

I know right, it's really not that hard to make the changes needed to make the CLA and any other vehicles from Mercedes Benz comply with the rules set out by different nations.

They will be losing out by a lot, thats for sure.

 

[booker]

I know right, it's really not that hard to make the changes needed to make the CLA and any other vehicles from Mercedes Benz comply with the rules set out by different nations.

They will be losing out by a lot, thats for sure.

I'm glad they're not conforming. Mercedes has found data that it finds alarming, they have acted on that data by refusing to conform and sticking to their findings.

Its refreshing to see a big brand take a stand against bureaucracy.

Besides, I'll take the findings of researched science any day over the posturing of kleptocrats

 

[brianch]

Just drain the freon and fill with the EU standard type.

Problem solved.

Do it right at the dealershi before its sold

 

[booker]

UPDATE:

Legal clearance has been given by the 28 European Union Commissioners for other Eurozone nations to take corrective measures against Mercedes.

The Commission released a statement saying: “Member states acknowledged that, regarding the vehicles which do not conform with EU law, corrective measures shall be taken to bring the vehicles into conformity including the withdrawal of those vehicles already sold on the market, as it has already been done by a member state.”

Germany itself is backing Mercedes research into the mandated Freeon and upholding the belief that it can be highly flammable in certain conditions. The German government has until August 20 to explain its stance, otherwise the EU will proceed with what it calls 'infringement proceedings', likely in the form of daily fines for noncompliance.

 

[mr.smith]

The makers of the new coolant R1234yf (great name, huh,) Honeywill and Dupont are claiming that Mercedes is rigging tests in favor of a cheaper coolant. The new coolant is about 10 times more expensive than the old coolant.

It's a pretty big accusation to say a company rigged tests to make a liquid seem flammable. If the liquid was dangerously flammable, wouldn't other car companies have taken the same stance as Mercedes-Benz though?