[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 76 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20798-20799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8005]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2005-21011]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2001-2005 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Trucks Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2001-2005 Mercedes Benz Sprinter trucks 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 
2001-2005 Mercedes Benz Sprinter trucks 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 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 May 23, 2005.

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]. 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.
    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.
    Registered Importer Corporation of Oxnard, California 
(``RIC'')(Registered Importer 01-290) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether nonconforming 2001-2005 Mercedes Benz Sprinter trucks are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which RIC 
believes are substantially similar are 2001-2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500/
3500 trucks that were manufactured for 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 
2001-2005 Mercedes Benz Sprinter trucks 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.
    RIC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2001-2005 Mercedes Benz Sprinter trucks 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 2001-
2005 Mercedes Benz Sprinter trucks are identical to their U.S-certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission 
Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic and Electric Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 
116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, 
and Roof Panel Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than 
Passenger Cars, 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor 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

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Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 
Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    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: installation of an 
indicator lamp lens cover inscribed with the word ``brake'' in the 
instrument cluster in place of one inscribed with the international ECE 
warning symbol.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model (a) headlamp assemblies that 
incorporate front side marker lamps and front side reflex reflectors; 
(b) taillamp assemblies that incorporate rear side marker lamps and 
rear side reflex reflectors; and (c) a high-mounted stoplamp assembly.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: installation of a U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of air bag 
warning labels to meet the requirements of this standard.
    The petitioner states that the occupant protection system in these 
vehicles consists of an airbag and combination lap and shoulder belts 
at the driver's seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: inspection of all vehicles 
and installation of U.S.-model components, on vehicles that are not 
already so equipped, to ensure compliance with the standard.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield 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 am to 5 pm]. 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.

Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle, Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 05-8005 Filed 4-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P