[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38796-38797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18954]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-75; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz S600 Coupe 
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 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz S600 Coupe 
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 1993 
Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz S600 Coupe 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 August 26, 
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. 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 No. R-90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz S600 
Coupe passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicles which G&K believes are substantially similar are 
the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz S600 Coupe 
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 contends that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes- Benz S600 
Coupe to their U.S. certified counterparts, and found those vehicles to 
be substantially similar with respect to compliance with most 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 
Mercedes-Benz S600 Coupe, 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 
1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz S600 Coupe 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) inscription of the word 
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp lens; (b) placement of 
the appropriate 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 headlamp assemblies and 
front sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.- model taillamp assemblies 
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 Mirrors: replacement of the passenger 
side rear view mirror, which is convex, with a U.S.- model component.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly, and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a

[[Page 38797]]

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 an automatic restraint system consisting of driver's and 
passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters. The petitioner further 
states that the vehicles are equipped with Type 2 seat belts in the 
front and rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a Type 1 
seat belt in the rear center designated seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of door 
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 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEC and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz 
S600 Coupe must be reinforced to comply with the Bumper Standard found 
in 49 CFR Part 581.
    The petitioner further states that before the vehicle will be 
imported into the United States, its VIN will be inscribed on fourteen 
major car parts, and a theft prevention certification label will be 
affixed, in compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard 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: July 19, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-18954 Filed 7-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P