[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65124-65126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32343]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-97-3190]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 passenger cars are eligible for
importation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1994-
1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 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
[[Page 65125]]
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 January 9,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 a.m.
to 5 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. 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. 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 (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 passenger cars are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicles which Champagne
believes are substantially similar are the 1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S500
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
1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 passenger cars 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.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S500
passenger cars, 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 non-U.S. certified 1994-
1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 passenger cars 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, 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.
Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1994-
1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 passenger cars comply with the Bumper Standard
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
Petitioner also contends that non-U.S. certified 1994-1997
Mercedes-Benz S500 passenger cars 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 a noncomplying 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.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
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 rear door lock buttons with
U.S.-model components.
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 and passenger's side air bags
and knee bolsters if these are not 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 in each front designated
seating position, with combination lap and shoulder restraints that
release by means of a single push button in 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.
Petitioner states that a vehicle identification number plate will
be affixed to non-U.S. certified 1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 passenger
cars 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 Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,
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
[[Page 65126]]
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: December 5, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs, Director,
Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-32343 Filed 12-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P