[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29996]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: December 6, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-94; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E passenger cars are eligible for importation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1990
Mercedes-Benz 190E that was not originally manufactured to comply with
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for
importation into the United States because (1) it is substantially
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for importation
into and sale in the United States and that was certified by its
manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) it is
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is January 5,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington,
DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section
108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
(the Act)), a motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to
conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards shall
be refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided
that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United
States, certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115 (formerly section 114 of
the Act), and of the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle
to be compared, and is capable of being readily altered to conform to
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to
49 CFR Part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in
the Federal Register.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E (Model ID 201.036) passenger cars are eligible
for importation into the United States. The vehicle which G&K believes
is substantially similar is the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E that was
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and
certified by its manufacturer, Daimler Benz A.G., as conforming to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E to its U.S. certified counterpart,
and found the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E, as originally
manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards
in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is capable of
being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart
with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102 Transmission Shift
Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106
Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood
Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201
Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204
Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 207
Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield
Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, and 219 Windshield Zone
Intrusion.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp; (b) placement of a seat belt warning symbol on the seat
belt warning lamp; (c) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from
kilometers to miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model sealed beam headlamps and
front sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp lenses which
incorporate rear sidemarkers; (c) installation of a high mounted stop
lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the convex
passenger side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is
switched off.
Standard No. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components:
installation of U.S.-model rear door locks.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner claims that the vehicle is equipped
with Type 2 seat belts in all seating positions that conform to the
standard. Additionally, the petitioner claims that the vehicle is
equipped with an air bag and knee bolster that conform to the
standard's requirements for passive restraints.
Standard No. 214 Side Door Strength: installation of reinforcing
beams.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the
evaporative emissions collection canister., and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E must be reinforced to comply
with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for
examination in the docket at the above address both before and after
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: December 1, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-29996 Filed 12-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M