[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