[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28877-28879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13067]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-15172]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2001-2003 Mercedes-Benz Type 463 Short Wheel Base Gelaendewagen Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2001-2003 Type 463 short wheel base(SWB) Gelaendewagen multi-purpose 
passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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 
2001-2003 Type 463 SWB Gelaendewagen MPVs that were not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards are eligible for importation into the United States because 
they have safety features

[[Page 28878]]

that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all 
such standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is June 26, 2003.

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.]. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

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.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B), a motor vehicle that was not 
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards may also be granted admission into the United 
States, even if there is no substantially similar motor vehicle of the 
same model year originally manufactured for importation into and sale 
in the United States, if the safety features of the vehicle comply with 
or are capable of being altered to comply with those standards based on 
destructive test information or other evidence that NHTSA decides is 
adequate.
    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.
    J.K. Motors of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'')(Registered Importer 
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 2001-2003 Type 463 SWB 
Gelaendewagen MPVs are eligible for importation into the United States. 
J.K. has identified its petition as pertaining to both the Cabriolet 
and the Three Door versions of these vehicles. J.K. believes that these 
vehicles can be made to conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards (FMVSS).
    In its petition, J.K. noted that over a period of ten years, NHTSA 
has granted import eligibility to a number of Mercedes Benz 
Gelaendewagen type 463 vehicles. These include the 1990-1996 SWB 
version of the vehicle (assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-14) and 
the 1996 through 2001 long wheel base (LWB) version of the vehicle 
(assigned vehicle eligibility numbers VCP-11, 15, 16, 18, and 21). 
These eligibility decisions were based on petitions submitted by J.K. 
and another registered importer, Europa International, Inc., claiming 
that the vehicles were capable of being altered to comply with all 
applicable FMVSS. Because those vehicles were not manufactured for 
importation into and sale in the United States, and were not certified 
by their original manufacturer (Daimler Benz), as conforming to all 
applicable FMVSS, they cannot be categorized as ``substantially 
similar'' to the 2001-2003 SWB versions for purposes of establishing 
import eligibility under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A). In addition, while 
there are some similarities between the SWB and LWB versions, NHTSA has 
decided that the 2002 and 2003 LWB versions of the vehicle that 
Mercedes Benz has manufactured for importation into and sale in the 
United States cannot be categorized as substantially similar to the SWB 
versions for the purpose of establishing import eligibility under 
section 30141(a)(1)(A). Therefore, we will construe J.K.'s petition as 
a petition pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B).
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that 2001-2003 Type 463 SWB Gelaendewagen MPVs, as 
originally manufactured, conform to many applicable FMVSS and are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all other applicable 
standards to which they were not originally manufactured to conform.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that 2001-2003 Type 463 SWB 
Gelaendewagen MPVs has safety features that comply 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, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 
Brake Fluid, 118 Power-Operated Window Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires 
for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 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, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.
    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) Replacement of the 
instrument cluster with the U.S.-model component; (b) replacement of 
the cruise control lever with a U.S.-model component on vehicles that 
are not so equipped; (c) reprogramming and initialization of the 
vehicle control system to integrate the new instrument cluster and 
activate required warning systems.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front 
sidemarker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies 
or modification of existing taillamps to conform to the standard; (c) 
installation of U.S.-model sidemarker lights.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the 
required warning statement on the mirror's surface.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: programming of the vehicle 
control systems to activate the required driver warning.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Programming of the 
vehicle control systems to activate the required seat belt warnings. 
The petitioner states

[[Page 28879]]

that the vehicles are equipped with driver's and passenger's air bags 
and knee bolsters, and with combination lap and shoulder belts that are 
self-tensioning and that release by means of a single red push button 
at the front and rear outboard seating positions.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Inspection of 
all vehicles for compliance with this standard, and modification of any 
vehicle found not to comply.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: The petitioner states that 
the vehicles' fuel systems must be modified with U.S.-model parts to 
meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) OBDII, Spit Back, and 
enhanced EVAP requirements. The petitioner claims that as modified, 
these systems will control all fuel leaks in the case of an impact.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicle 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 Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated below.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: May 20, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-13067 Filed 5-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P