Volkswagen Joins Mercedes-Benz Over New Auto Refrigerant Fire Risks

An auto refrigerant developed by Honeywell International Inc. and DuPont Co. and forecast to generate billions of dollars in sales is being shunned by two of Germany’s largest carmakers after failing Daimler AG internal safety tests.

Daimler says it won’t use the chemical and is recalling Mercedes-Benz cars that contain the product, defying a Jan. 1 European Union deadline to use the refrigerant in new models. Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest automaker, is re-evaluating the product in light of Daimler’s tests and won’t use it “until further notice,” Jeannine Ginivan, a spokeswoman for the Wolfsburg-based company, said Dec. 20.

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david999 - 1/7/2013 10:17:15 AM

+1 Boost

I think I would go with Merc on this one. Either that, or trust the chemical companies are looking out for the best interest of the car consumer.............ya,sure.

1CarSmart1 - 1/7/2013 11:54:17 AM

-2 Boost

Mercedes invented the auto.

1CarSmart1 - 1/7/2013 12:39:41 PM

-2 Boost

Google, you tool.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=active&tbo=d&sclient=psy-ab&q=mercedes+invented+the+car&oq=mercedes+invented+the+car&gs_l=hp.3..0j0i8i30.40360.45758.0.47287.25.19.0.0.0.0.1061.7566.4-1j3j4j2.10.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.dp1vJU2FM5U&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.aWM&fp=a4c147812de756a9&bpcl=40096503&biw=1440&bih=719

Amclaussen - 1/8/2013 11:15:16 AM

+2 Boost

Another totalitarian and stupid-as-usual, Pseudo-ecological measure promoted by the ever present, overly 'intelligent' European "green" politicians... An increased fire risk is NOT relevant to this kind of regulators, the same ones that gave us the questionable ban on incandescent lightbulbs (only to promote the mercury-loaded compact fluorescent lights), and the banning of lead in electronic solder (RoHS), causing many failures in circuits by creating Tin whiskers and/or brittle solders, most probably provoking the Unintended Acceleration problem in Toyotas with several confirmed deaths, and the numerous observed failures in circuits in electronic devices etc. As a Scientist and Engineer, I fully agree and applaud the decision by Daimler and Volkswagen to REFUSE the use of the "ecological" refrigerant in order to protect the life of their clients, and also to send a message to these overly enthusiastic "green" bureaucrats. Amclaussen, Mexico City.

85bmw745i - 1/8/2013 11:35:58 AM

+2 Boost

Well done Sir!