[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1028-1029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00273]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0820]


Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application 
for Exemption From Aumovio SE

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA requests public comment on an application for exemption 
submitted by Aumovio SE [Societas Europaea] (Aumovio), formerly 
Continental Automotive division, to allow motor carriers to operate 
commercial motor vehicles (CMV) equipped with Aumovio's ProViu Mirror 
camera monitor system installed as an alternative to the two rear-
vision mirrors required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 
(FMCSRs).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 9, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2025-0820 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0820/document. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Dockets Operations, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, 
Ground Floor, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number 
(FMCSA-2025-0820) for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments 
received without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading 
below.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its exemption process. DOT 
posts these comments, including any personal information the commenter 
provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records 
notice DOT/ALL-14 FDMS (Federal Docket Management System (FDMS)), which 
can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices. The comments are posted without 
edit and are searchable by the name of the submitter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Sutula, Chief, Vehicle and 
Roadside Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle 
Safety, FMCSA; (202) 961-1373, or by email at [email protected]. If you 
have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact 
Dockets Operations at (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and 
related materials.

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2025-0820), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which your comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material 
online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of 
these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing 
address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your 
document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions regarding 
your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0820/document, click on this notice, click 
``Comment,'' and type your comment into the text box on the following 
screen.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period. Comments received after the comment closing date will 
be filed in the public docket and will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

B. Confidential Business Information (CBI)

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. 
If your comments

[[Page 1029]]

responsive to the notice contain commercial or financial information 
that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as 
private, and that is relevant or responsive to the notice, it is 
important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. 
Please mark each page of your submission that constitutes CBI as 
``PROPIN'' to indicate it contains proprietary information. FMCSA will 
treat such marked submissions as confidential under the Freedom of 
Information Act, and they will not be placed in the public docket of 
the notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Brian Dahlin 
Chief, Regulatory Evaluation Division, Office of Policy, FMCSA, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 or via email at 
[email protected]. At this time, you need not send a duplicate 
hardcopy of your electronic CBI submissions to FMCSA headquarters. Any 
comments FMCSA receives not specifically designated as CBI will be 
placed in the public docket for this notice.

C. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this 
preamble as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, insert FMCSA-2025-0820 in the keyword box, select 
the document tab and choose the document to review. To view comments, 
click this notice, then click ``Browse Comments.'' If you do not have 
access to the internet, you may view the docket by visiting Docket 
Operations on the ground floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590--0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., ET Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure 
someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-
9826 before visiting Dockets Operations.

II. Legal Basis

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant 
exemptions from FMCSRs. FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption 
request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must 
provide the public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant 
to the application, including the applicant's safety analysis. The 
Agency must provide an opportunity for public comment on the request.
    The Agency reviews the application, safety analyses, and public 
comments submitted and determines whether granting the exemption would 
likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the 
level that would be achieved without the exemption, pursuant to the 
standard set forth in 49 CFR 381.305(a). The Agency must publish its 
decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If granted, the 
notice will identify the regulatory provision from which the applicant 
will be exempt, the effective period, and all terms and conditions of 
the exemption (49 CFR 381.315(c)(1)). If the exemption is denied, the 
notice will explain the reason for the denial (49 CFR 381.315(c)(2)). 
The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).

III. Applicant's Request

Current Regulatory Requirements

    Section 393.80(a) of the FMCSRs requires that each bus, truck, and 
truck-tractor be equipped with two rear-vision mirrors, one at each 
side. The mirrors must be positioned to reflect to the driver a view of 
the highway to the rear and the area along both sides of the CMV. 
Section 393.80(a) cross-references the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration's standards for mirrors on motor vehicles (49 CFR 
571.111, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111). 
Paragraph S7.1 of FMVSS No. 111 provides requirements for mirrors on 
multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross vehicle weight 
rating (GVWR) greater than 4,536 kg and less than 11,340 kg and each 
bus, other than a school bus, with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kg. 
Paragraph S8.1 provides requirements for mirrors on multipurpose 
passenger vehicles and trucks with a GVWR of 11,340 kg or more.

Applicant's Request

    Aumovio has applied for an exemption from Sec.  393.80(a) to allow 
motor carriers to operate CMVs equipped with the company's ProViu 
Mirror system installed as an alternative to the two rear-vision 
mirrors required by the FMCSRs. This technology is generally considered 
a camera-based rear visibility system, or Camera Monitor System (CMS). 
According to Aumovio, its system provides an ``expanded field of view 
compared to FMVSS 111-compliant mirrors. The system thus improves 
situational awareness and reduces blind spots.''
    Aumovio states that its system uses cameras that are mounted higher 
on the vehicle and extend less from the side of the vehicle, making 
them less susceptible to impact damage and road spray. The camera lens 
also includes hydrophobic coating to reduce soil. Because the display 
screens are inside the cabin, environmental conditions that impact the 
cabin's windows will not adversely affect the driver's view. In the 
event the camera-based system malfunctions, becomes damaged, or 
experiences an environmental condition that could potentially affect 
safe operation of the vehicle, Aumovio states that the vehicle would be 
taken out of service and returned after the condition is corrected, in 
the same manner as a vehicle equipped with traditional mirrors.
    Aumovio estimates that, if granted, 50 to 100 CMVs equipped with 
the ProViu Mirror system will be used initially in proof of concept or 
demonstration vehicles with key customers. An estimated 100 drivers 
will have the opportunity to use the system. Future deployment volumes 
will depend on the outcome of these initial demonstration deployments.
    A copy of Aumovio's application for exemption, and all supporting 
materials, are available for review in the docket for this notice.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), FMCSA requests public 
comment from all interested persons on Aumovio's application for a 5-
year exemption from 49 CFR 393.80(a). All comments received before the 
close of business on the comment closing date will be considered and 
will be available for examination in the docket at the location listed 
under the Addresses section of this notice. Comments received after the 
comment closing date will be filed in the public docket and may be 
considered to the extent practicable. In addition to late comments, 
FMCSA will also continue to file, in the public docket, relevant 
information that becomes available after the comment closing date. 
Interested persons should continue to examine the public docket for new 
material.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2026-00273 Filed 1-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P