[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 175 (Monday, September 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47545-47546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22879]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket Nos. 96-045; Notice 2, 96-058; Notice 2, 96-059; Notice 2, 96-
060; Notice 2, 96-061; Notice 2, 96-062; Notice 2, 96-063; Notice 2, 
96-064; Notice 2]


Decision That Nonconforming 1992 Jeep Cherokee Multi-Purpose 
Passenger Vehicles Manufactured for the Venezuelan Market, et al., are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1992 Jeep 
Cherokee multi-purpose passenger vehicles manufactured for the 
Venezuelan market, 1983 Yamaha RD 350 motorcycles, 1993 Mercedes-Benz 
420E passenger cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 passenger cars, 1993 
Mercedes-Benz 280E passenger cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E280 
passenger cars, 1992 Mercedes-Benz 250D passenger cars, 1993-1996 
Mercedes-Benz 220TE station wagons, 1993 Mercedes-Benz 220E passenger 
cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E220 passenger cars, and 1993, 1995, and 
1996 Porsche Carrera 2-door passenger cars are eligible for 
importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision by NHTSA that 1992 Jeep 
Cherokee multi-purpose passenger vehicles manufactured for the 
Venezuelan market, 1983 Yamaha RD 350 motorcycles, 1993 Mercedes-Benz 
420E passenger cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 passenger cars, 1993 
Mercedes-Benz 280E passenger cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E280 
passenger cars, 1992 Mercedes-Benz 250D passenger cars, 1993-1996 
Mercedes-Benz 220TE station wagons, 1993 Mercedes-Benz 220E passenger 
cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E220 passenger cars, and 1993, 1995, and 
1996 Porsche Carrera 2-door passenger cars not originally manufactured 
to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards 
are eligible for importation into the United States because they are 
substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for 
importation into and sale in the United States and certified by their 
manufacturers as complying with the safety standards, and they are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATE: This decision is effective as of September 9, 1996.

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) 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.
    NHTSA received petitions from registered importers to decide 
whether 1992 Jeep Cherokee multi-purpose passenger vehicles 
manufactured for the Venezuelan market, 1983 Yamaha RD 350 motorcycles, 
1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E passenger cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 
passenger cars, 1993 Mercedes-Benz 280E passenger cars, 1994-1996 
Mercedes-Benz E280 passenger cars, 1992 Mercedes-Benz 250D passenger 
cars, 1993-1996 Mercedes-Benz 220TE station wagons, 1993 Mercedes-Benz 
220E passenger cars, 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E220 passenger cars, and 
1993, 1995, and 1996 Porsche Carrera 2-Door passenger cars are eligible 
for importation into the United States. To afford an opportunity for 
public comment, NHTSA published notice of these petitions as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Vehicle                       Notice date and cite    
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1992 Jeep Cherokee........................  May 10, 1996 (61 FR 21530). 
1983 Yamaha RD 350........................  June 25, 1996 (61 FR 32891).
1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E...................  June 19, 1996 (61 FR 31220).
1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420..............  June 19, 1996 (61 FR 31220).
1993 Mercedes-Benz 280E...................  June 12, 1996 (61 FR 29788).
1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E280..............  June 12, 1996 (61 FR 29788).
1992 Mercedes-Benz 250D...................  June 25, 1996 (61 FR 32892).
1993-1996 Mercedes-Benz 220TE.............  June 12, 1996 (61 FR 29793).
1993 Mercedes-Benz 220E...................  June 12, 1996 (61 FR 29791).
1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E220..............  June 12, 1996 (61 FR 29791).
1993, 1995 and 1996 Porsche Carrera 2-door  June 19, 1996 (61 FR 31216).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The reader is referred to those notices for a thorough description 
of the petitions. No comments were received in response to these 
notices. Based on its review of the information submitted by the 
petitioners, NHTSA has decided to grant the petitions.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles

    The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must 
indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle 
eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry. 
Vehicle eligibility numbers assigned to vehicles admissible under this 
decision are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Vehicle                    Vehicle eligibility number 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 Jeep Cherokee (Venezuelan)...........  VSP-164.                    
1983 Yamaha RD 350........................  VSP-171.                    
1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E...................  VSP-169.                    
1994-96 Mercedes-Benz E420................  VSP-169.                    
1993 Mercedes-Benz 280E...................  VSP-166.                    
1994-96 Mercedes-Benz E280................  VSP-166.                    
1992 Mercedes-Benz 250D...................  VSP-172.                    

[[Page 47546]]

                                                                        
1993-96 Mercedes-Benz 220TE...............  VSP-167.                    
1993 Mercedes-Benz 220E...................  VSP-168.                    
1994-96 Mercedes-Benz E220................  VSP-168.                    
1993, 1995 and 1996 Porsche Carrera 2-door  VSP-165.                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Final Decision

    Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides 
that:
    1. A 1992 Jeep Cherokee multi-purpose passenger vehicle 
manufactured for the Venezuelan market that was not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards is substantially similar to a 1992 Jeep Cherokee multi-
purpose passenger vehicle originally manufactured for sale in the 
United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is capable 
of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards;
    2. A 1983 Yamaha RD 350 motorcycle not originally manufactured to 
comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is 
substantially similar to a 1983 Yamaha RZ 350 motorcycle originally 
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and 
certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is capable of being readily 
altered to conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards;
    3. A 1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E passenger car not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards is substantially similar to a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E 
passenger car originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards;
    4. 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 passenger cars not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards are substantially similar to 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 
passenger cars originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards;
    5. A 1993 Mercedes-Benz 280E passenger car not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards is substantially similar to a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 
passenger car originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards;
    6. 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E280 passenger cars not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards are substantially similar to 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 
passenger cars originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards;
    7. A 1992 Mercedes-Benz 250D passenger car not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards is substantially similar to a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300E 
passenger car originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards;
    8. 1993-1996 Mercedes-Benz 220TE station wagons not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards are substantially similar to the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300TE and 
1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 station wagons originally manufactured for 
importation into and sale in the United States and certified under 49 
U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and are capable of being readily altered to conform 
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards;
    9. A 1993 Mercedes-Benz 220E passenger car not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards is substantially similar to a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 
passenger car originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards;
    10. 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E220 passenger cars not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards are substantially similar to 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E320 
passenger cars originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards; and
    11. 1993, 1995, and 1996 Porsche Carrera 2-Door passenger cars not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards are substantially similar to 1993, 1995, and 
1996 Porsche Carrera 2-Door passenger cars originally manufactured for 
importation into and sale in the United States and certified under 49 
U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and are capable of being readily altered to conform 
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

    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 3, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-22879 Filed 9-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P