[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13755-13756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04715]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0161, Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2003 Jeep Wrangler Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Manufactured for 
Sale in the Mexican Market Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
2003 Jeep Wrangler multi-purpose passenger vehicles manufactured for 
sale in the Mexican market that were not originally manufactured to 
comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 
(FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the United States because 
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 (the U.S.-
certified version of the 2003 Jeep Wrangler MPV) and they are capable 
of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251
    Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and 
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to 
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are 
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are 
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: 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 (65 FR 19477-78).
    How to Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the 
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the 
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in 
the Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit 
late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search 
the Docket for new material.

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

[[Page 13756]]

manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS 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 FMVSS.
    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.
    Mesa Auto Wholesalers of Chandler, Arizona (Mesa) (Registered 
Importer 94-018) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
2003 Jeep Wrangler MPVs manufactured for sale in the Mexican market are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
Mesa Auto Wholesalers believes are substantially similar are 2003 Jeep 
Wrangler MPVs that were manufactured for sale in the United States and 
certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified 2003 Jeep 
Wrangler MPVs manufactured for sale in the Mexican market to their 
U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially 
similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    Mesa submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2003 Jeep Wrangler MPVs 
manufactured for sale in the Mexican market, as originally 
manufactured, conform to many FMVSS 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 2003 Jeep Wrangler MPVs manufactured for sale in the 
Mexican market 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, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft 
Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, 
Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 109 New Pneumatic Tires and Certain 
Specialty Tires, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle 
Brake 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 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: Replacement of the 
instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component with inscription of the 
word ``brake'' on the brake failure warning light as well as reading 
speed in mph.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of the following U.S.-model components on 
vehicles not already so equipped: (a) Headlamps; (b) tail lamps (c) 
front and rear side marker lamps; and (d) a U.S.-model high-mounted 
stop lamp.
    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 existing mirror.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation 
Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Vehicles Under 
4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less: Installation of a tire and rim 
information placard.
    The petitioner states that each vehicle will be inspected prior to 
importation for compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard in 49 CFR 
part 541 and that anti-theft devices will be installed on all vehicles 
not already so equipped.
    The petitioner additionally 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 and that a certification label 
must be affixed to the driver's door jamb to meet the requirements of 
49 CFR part 567.
    As previously stated, the petitioner claims that the vehicle, as 
originally manufactured, complies with FMVSS No. 208 Occupant Crash 
Protection. NHTSA seeks specific comments on whether the vehicle, which 
is manufactured for sale in the Mexican Market, does in fact comply 
with all requirements of FMVSS No. 208, including the unbelted occupant 
protection requirements of this standard.
    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 addresses 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: February 22, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-04715 Filed 2-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P