[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 202 (Thursday, October 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54252-54253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26564]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-107; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE 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 a 1992 
Mercedes-Benz 300TE that was not originally manufactured to comply with 
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for 
importation into the United States because: (1) It is substantially 
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for importation 
into and sale in the United States and that was certified by its 
manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) it is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is November 18, 
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 a.m. to 4 p.m.]

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), 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.
    Pierre Enterprises, Southeast, Inc. of Ft. Pierce, Florida 
(``Pierre'') (Registered Importer 93-016) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Pierre believes 
is substantially similar is the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE that was 
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and 
certified by its 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 Mercedes-Benz 300TE to its U.S. certified counterpart, 
and found the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Pierre submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE, as 
originally manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 
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

[[Page 54253]]

Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111, Rearview 
Mirrors, 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, 
212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 
CFR Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is 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) replacement of the speedometer/odometer with a 
U.S.- model component.
    Standard No. 108  Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlight assemblies; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies; (c) installation of a 
high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 110  Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 114  Theft Protection: installation of a warning 
buzzer relay and a warning buzzer in the steering lock electrical 
circuit.
    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 vehicle is equipped 
with a U.S.-model driver's side air bag and knee bolster.
    Standard No. 214  Side Impact Protection: installation of 
reinforcing tubes.
    Standard No. 301  Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that a VIN plate must be 
installed inside the non-U.S. certified 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE so 
that it can be read from the left windshield pillar, and a VIN 
reference label must be affixed to the edge of the door or latch post 
nearest the driver, to satisfy the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565.
    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 9, 1996.

Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 96-26564 Filed 10-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P