Politics

According to a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Transport, the ruling handed down by the Paris tribunal on the controversy surrounding refrigerating fluid in air conditioning units was not only a victory for Daimler, but it also lent weight and worth to the position of the Federal Government on the issue. Unfortunately, however, even after the court’s ruling overturning the ban on certain models of Mercedes cars circulating in France, there is still no fast and easy way out of the quagmire. The nub of the problem between French authorities and the German auto manufacturer is the use of R1234yf in car air-conditionng units. Daimler is refusing to use the cooling fluid because fires occurred  in the course of certain testing processes. Manufacturer of the fluid, Dupont, is steadfastly declaring its confidence that R1234yf can be used in automobile conditioning units. In court, Honeywell spoke of a “diversive administrative manoevre that would have a negative impact on the environment”. Until a definitive decision is arrived at, the cars must be allowed on the road.