[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59594-59596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24126]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2002-13332]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993 Mercedes Benz S Series Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993 Mercedes Benz S Series 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 
1993 Mercedes Benz S Series passenger cars

[[Page 59595]]

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 October 23, 
2002.

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 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luke Loy, Office of Vehicle Safety 
Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5308).

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.
    Sunshine Car Import L.C. of Cape Coral, Florida (``SCI'') 
(Registered Importer 01-289) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1993 Mercedes Benz S Series passenger cars are eligible for importation 
into the United States. The vehicles which SCI believes are 
substantially similar are 1993 Mercedes Benz S Series passenger cars 
that were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United 
States and certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1993 Mercedes Benz S Series 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.
    SCI submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 1993 Mercedes Benz S Series 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 1993 
Mercedes Benz S Series 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, 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, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.
    In addition, the petitioner claims that the vehicles comply with 
the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    The 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) Inscription of the word 
``brake'' on the dash in place of the international ECE warning symbol; 
(b) replacement of the speedometer with one that reads in miles per 
hours.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front side 
marker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model tail lamp assemblies 
which incorporate rear side marker lights; (c) installation of a U.S.-
model center high mounted stop light assembly.
    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 with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
and a warning buzzer micro switch in the steering lock assembly.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: Installation of a relay in 
the power window system so that the windows will not operate with the 
ignition off.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
seat belt warning buzzer, wired to the seat belt latch; (b) inspection 
of all vehicles and replacement of the driver's and passenger's side 
air bags, control units, sensors, and seat belts with U.S.-model 
components on vehicles that are not already so equipped. Petitioner 
states that the front and rear outboard designated seating positions 
have combination lap and shoulder belts that are self-tensioning and 
that release by means of a single red pushbutton and that there is a 
lap belt at the rear center designated seating position. Petitioner 
further states that the vehicles are equipped with a seat belt warning 
lamp that is identical to the lamp installed on U.S.-certified models.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Inspection of all vehicles 
to ensure that they are equipped with door bars identical to those in 
the U.S. certified model and installation of those components on 
vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    The petitioner states that a vehicle identification plate must be 
affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post and a reference 
and certification label must be affixed in the area of the left front 
door post 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 Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). 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

[[Page 59596]]

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: September 18, 2002.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 02-24126 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P