[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52992-52993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25886]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-102; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic Passenger Cars are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic 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 1990-
1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic 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 November 8, 
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), 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, 
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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic (Model ID 124.230) 
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which Wallace believes are substantially similar are 1990-1993 
Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic 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 
1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matics 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.
    Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 
4Matics, 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 1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matics 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, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward 
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 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 the ECE warning symbol on the brake 
system warning light; (b) 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; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model rear turn signal lenses; (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: Inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning 
buzzer.
    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. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components: (a) 
Replacement of the cap on each interior door locking button to permit 
operation from inside the vehicle; (b) modification of the rear door 
locks so that the interior

[[Page 52993]]

door handles are inoperative when the door lock is engaged.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
seat belt warning system; (b) installation of a seat belt latch with a 
microswitch to activate the seat belt warning system; (c) installation 
of a driver's side air bag and knee bolster identical to those found on 
the vehicles' U.S.-certified counterparts; (d) installation of a 
passenger's side air bag in vehicles for which the U.S.-certified 
counterpart is so equipped; (e) installation of U.S.-model front seat 
belt retractors. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped 
with Type 2 seat belts in all four outboard seating systems, and with a 
Type 1 seat belt in the rear center seating position.
    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 1990-1993 Mercedes Benz 300E 4Matics must be modified 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: October 3, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-25886 Filed 10-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P