[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64468-64469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30576]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-96; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL passenger cars are eligible for
importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1992
and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL 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 January 16,
1996.
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. 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. 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
1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL (Model ID 140.051) passenger cars
are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which
G&K believes are substantially similar are the 1992 and 1993 Mercedes-
Benz 500SEL 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 the non-U.S.
certified 1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL 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 the non-U.S. certified 1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
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 the non-U.S. certified
1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL passenger cars are identical to
their U.S. certified counterparts 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, 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 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 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 passenger side
convex 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
[[Page 64469]]
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 all non-U.S. certified
1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL passenger cars built prior to
September 1993 are equipped with driver's side air bags and knee
bolsters, and that those built after September 1993 are equipped with
both driver's and passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters. The
petitioner further states that these vehicles are equipped with Type 2
seat belts in both front and rear outboard seating positions.
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 the non-
U.S. certified 1992 and 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL passenger cars 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 12, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-30576 Filed 12-14-95; 8:45 am]
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