[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73118-73119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33802]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6668]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC 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 January 28, 
2000.

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 9 am to 5 
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. 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

[[Page 73119]]

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.
    Black Shrine, Inc. of Costa Mesa, California (``Black Shrine'') 
(Registered Importer 99-224) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC passenger cars are eligible for importation 
into the United States. The vehicle which Black Shrine believes is 
substantially similar is the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC 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 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC passenger car 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.
    Black Shrine submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC, 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 
1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC is identical to its U.S. certified 
counterpart 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, 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, 
301 Fuel System Integrity, 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 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 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 Mirror: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning 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. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
U.S.-model seat belt latch in the driver's position; (b) installation 
of an ignition switch-actuated seat belt warning buzzer. The petitioner 
states that the vehicle is equipped with driver's and passenger's side 
air bags and knee bolsters that are identical to the components found 
on the vehicle's U.S.-certified counterpart. Additionally, the 
petitioner states that the vehicle is 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 both front designated 
seating positions, and with combination lap and shoulder restraints 
that release by means of a single push button at both rear designated 
seating positions.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of 
reinforcing beams.
    The petitioner states that a theft prevention/certification label 
will be permanently affixed to the vehicle and the vehicle's vehicle 
identification number (VIN) will be engraved on the engine, 
transmission, right front fender, left front fender, hood, right door, 
left door, front bumper, rear bumper, right rear quarter panel, left 
rear quarter panel, and decklid to comply with the Theft Prevention 
Standard found at 49 CFR Part 541.
    The petitioner also states that a VIN plate must be installed 
inside the vehicle 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 on the latchpost nearest the driver to meet 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: December 23, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-33802 Filed 12-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P