[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53047-53048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26923]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-068; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SE Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SE 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-
1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SE 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 10,
1997.
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.
Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (Registered
Importer No. R-90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1990-1991
Mercedes Benz 420 SE passenger cars are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is
substantially similar is the 1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SEL. Champagne
has submitted information indicating that Daimler Benz, A.G., the
company that manufactured the 1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SEL,
certified that vehicle as conforming to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards and offered it for sale in the United States.
The petitioner contends that it carefully compared the 1990-1991
Mercedes Benz 420 SE to the 1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SEL, and found
the two models to be substantially similar with respect to compliance
with most
[[Page 53048]]
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the 1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SE, as originally
manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards
in the same manner as the 1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SEL that was
offered for sale in the United States, or is capable of being readily
altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the 1990-1991 Mercedes
Benz 420 SE is identical to the certified 1990-1991 Mercedes Benz 420
SEL 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, 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, 212 Windshield
Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
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) installation of a seat belt warning lamp that
displays the appropriate symbol; (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; (b)
installation of U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/reflector
assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies; (d)
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.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a buzzer
microswitch in the steering lock assembly, and a warning buzzer.
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:
replacement of the rear door locks and locking buttons with U.S.-model
parts.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt webbing-
actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; (b)
installation of an ignition switch-actuated seat belt warning lamp and
buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's side air bag and knee bolster
with U.S.-model components. The petitioner states that the vehicles are
equipped with combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by
means of an automatic retractor and release by means of a single push
button at each front designated seating position, with combination lap
and shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button
at each rear outboard designated seating position, and with a lap belt
in the rear center designated 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 the 1990-
1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SE must be reinforced, or U.S.-model bumper
components must be installed, to comply with the Bumper Standard found
in 49 CFR part 581.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicle to comply with 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 6, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-26923 Filed 10-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P