[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49661-49662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23862]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-64; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 Passenger Cars Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 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 1993 
Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 passenger cars that were 
not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United 
States because (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were 
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United 
States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with 
the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered 
to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is October 26, 
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: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 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. 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 
1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 (Model ID 129.067) 
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which G&K believes are substantially similar are 1993 
Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 passenger cars that were 
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and 
certified by their manufacturer, Daimler Benz A.G., as conforming to 
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 passenger cars to 
their U.S. certified counterparts, and found the 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 non-U.S. certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 
SL500 passenger cars, as originally manufactured, conform to many 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the same manner as their U.S. 
certified counterparts, or are capable of being readily altered to 
conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1993 
Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 passenger cars are 
identical to their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to 
compliance with Standard 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, 

[[Page 49662]]
202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the Driver From the 
Steering Control System, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 
205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 
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, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are 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 lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure 
indicator lamp; (b) installation of a 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 headlamp assemblies and front 
sidmarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies which 
incorporate rear sidmarkers; (c) installation of a high mounted stop 
lamp.
    Stnadard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the 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. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat 
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicles are 
equipped with Type 2 seat belts in both seating positions. The 
petitioner also states that the vehicles manufactured after September 
9, 1993 are equipped with driver's and passenger's side air bags and 
knee bolsters, and that those manufactured before that date may be 
equipped with only a driver's side air bag and knee bolster and a Type 
2 seat belt on the passenger's side.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: 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.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on non-U.S. 
certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 passenger 
cars must be reinforced to comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 
CFR Part 581. Petitioner also states that the vehicles' VINs will be 
inscribed on 14 major car parts and a theft prevention certification 
label will be installed on the vehicles before they are imported into 
the United States to comply with the Theft Prevention Standard found in 
49 CFR Part 541.
    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: September 21, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-23862 Filed 9-25-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M