So many see the onset of Spring as the end of the cold and dark of winter, but for around 80 million others it's the start of a season of misery and discomfort due to allergies.
Rather than just accepting the use of pills and tissues as the way forward, Ford's development teams across Europe are making huge efforts to make sure their cars are allergy-friendly. Germany's TÃœV Rheinland testing authority have granted the new Grand C-Max their 'Allergy-Tested-Interior' seal of approval. Ford is the only manufacturer with vehicles certified by TÃœV and also was awarded the Quality Certificate by the Berlin-based European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation.
Caspar Dirk Hohage, Engineering Director, Ford of Europe was outspoken in saying "We want to give our customers the best - the best design, performance and quality, and the best passenger environment. That is why we are doing all we can to avoid or reduce to the absolute minimum all materials and substances that may pose an allergic risk. We are the only vehicle manufacturer in the world with cars that are independently verified and certificated as allergy-tested by the TÃœV."
The Grand C_Max joins the ever-growing list of ford models that have achieved the certification by TÃœV.
It's not just pollen though. Contact with materials is a big issue in allergies. All components that have direct and prolonged skin contact are dermatologically tested. Their engineers avoid or reduce to the absolute minimum such materials as latex, chrome and nickel, which can produce an allergic reaction with some people. Ford also has implemented stringent internal requirements to increase the use of sustainable materials within its products. This includes increasing the use of recycled, renewable, and lightweight materials.
June 2011
Read our Review of the Ford Grand C-Max Here | 
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