[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30182-30183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10365]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2005-21263]


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

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
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 
1991 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL 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 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 June 24, 2004.

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.
    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.
    American Auto Dream of Costa Mesa, California (``AAD'') (Registered 
Importer 02-224) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
1991 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL passenger cars are eligible for importation 
into the United States. The vehicles which AAD believes are 
substantially similar are 1991 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL 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 
1991 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL 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.
    AAD submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 1991 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL 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 1991 
Mercedes Benz 560 SEL passenger cars 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 Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107

[[Page 30183]]

Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch System, 
114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 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, 
211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hub Caps, 212 Windshield Mounting, 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) 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, and (b) replacement or conversion of the speedometer/
odometer assembly to read in miles per hours and miles driven, 
respectively.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Replacement of the following with U.S.-model components: (a) 
Headlamp assemblies that incorporate front side marker lamps and side 
reflex reflectors; (b) taillamp assemblies that incorporate rear side 
marker lamps and side reflex reflectors; and (c) center high mounted 
stop lamp.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    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 that mirror.
    Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification: Installation of a vehicle 
identification plate near the left windshield post to meet the 
requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: Rewiring the power-operated window system to meet the 
requirements of the standard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a 
supplemental warning buzzer which is wired to the seat belt latch to 
ensure that the seat belt warning system activates in the proper 
manner.
    The petitioner also states that the vehicles are equipped with a 
driver's air bag, and combination lap and shoulder belts at the front 
seating positions. These seat belts are self-tensioning and capable of 
being released by means of a single red push button.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of door bars 
identical to those in the U.S. certified models.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles will be inspected prior to 
importation to assure compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard at 
49 CFR part 541, and that vehicles will be modified, if necessary, to 
comply with that standard.
    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)(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. 05-10365 Filed 5-24-05; 8:45 am]
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