The UFC-Que Choisir announced on Tuesday, July 22, after having launched a group action addressed to the Stellantis automobile manufacturer to claim the payment of the compensation of vehicle owners equipped with Takata airbags subject to forced immobilization.
The consumer association has decided to confiscate the court “so that the damages caused to motorists victims of remembered remembered stop (Stop driving, editor’s note), operated since 2023 in a completely anarchic and unreasonable way, they are repaired, “he said.
At the end of June, the French government ordered car manufacturers, all combined brands to immobilize 800,000 additional vehicles equipped with Takata airbags, potentially defective, which causes 1.7 million the number of vehicles led by a prohibition of this reason, until the device is replaced.
This is a bad more news for Stellantis, which announced on Monday a net loss of 2.3 billion euros in the first half.
Fatal accident
This decision was made after the fatal accident of a motorist that occurred in Reims due to the explosion of its airbag during a shock with another vehicle.
“These stops from Stop Drive are the direct consequences and some of the violations, for the incurred and chaotic management of Stellantis and Citroën, in the execution of its general security obligation, constituting a fault of the manufacturer and, therefore, to open the right to repair,” develops the Choisir of UFC -quir.
At least three of the motorists killed in recent years led a Citroën C3.
The Association requests a compensation series for various prejudices, in particular a daily assignment during the immobilization of the vehicle or for the moral damage suffered by consumers “transported in cars equipped with fatal equipment”.
Judicial investigation
It is the first group action brought to France on these defective air bags, responsible for at least 60 people dead in 11 countries in the last 15 years, including 18 in France.
In the United States, the most affected country with 28 Dead, Ford, Toyota, Honda, BMW, Nissan and Mazda paid a total of $ 1.5 billion in victims.
Takata airbags are responsible for mortal explosions or that cause serious injuries due to gas, ammonium nitrate, which degrades over time, especially in warm and humid climates.
The security cushions are activated even in case of a minor collision, causing an explosion identical to that of a grenade and are projected in the passenger compartment of metal and plastic pieces, often fatal to the driver.
The Japanese Takata company, a world manufacturer known for airbag systems and safety belts, did not survive the scandal and declared bankruptcy in 2017.
In France, investigating judges investigate suspicions of aggravated deception and endanger the lives of others.
Source: BFM TV
