[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18477-18478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9330]
[[Page 18477]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5495]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1995-1997 Mercedes-Benz E500 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1995-1997 Mercedes-Benz E500 passenger cars are eligible for
importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1995-
1997 Mercedes-Benz E500 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 May 14, 1999.
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].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
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.
J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1995-1997 Mercedes-Benz
E500 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially similar are
1995-1997 Mercedes-Benz E500 passenger cars that were manufactured for
importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by their
manufacturer, Daimler Benz, A.G., as conforming to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1995-1997 Mercedes-Benz E500 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.
J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1995-1997 Mercedes-Benz E500
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 1995-
1997 Mercedes-Benz E500 passenger cars are identical to their U.S.
certified counterparts with respect to compliance 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113
Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control Systems,
201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204
Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 207
Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219
Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1995-
1997 Mercedes-Benz E500 passenger cars comply with the Bumper Standard
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
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 entire
instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component that includes a
speedometer/odometer calibrated in miles per hour and other U.S.-model
gauges.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front
sidemarker lamps; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies
which incorporate rear sidemarker lights; (c) installation of a U.S.-
model high mounted stop lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
and a warning buzzer microswitch in the steering lock assembly.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: installation of a relay in
the power window system so that the window transport is inoperative
when the ignition is switched off.
Standard No. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components:
replacement of the rear door locks and rear door lock buttons with
U.S.-model components.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a
safety belt warning buzzer, wired to the driver's seat belt latch; (b)
replacement of the driver's and passenger's side air bags, control
units, sensors, seat belts and knee bolsters with U.S.-model components
on vehicles that are not already so equipped. The petitioner states
that the vehicles are equipped at the front and rear outboard seating
positions with combination lap and shoulder belts that are self
tensioning and capable of being released by means of a single red push-
button, and with a lap belt in the rear center designated seating
position.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of U.S.-model
doorbars in vehicles that are not already so equipped.
301 Fuel System Integrity: inspection of all vehicles to ensure
that they are
[[Page 18478]]
equipped with a rollover and check valve that complies with the
standard.
Additionally, the petitioner states that all vehicles will be
inspected prior to importation to assure compliance with the Theft
Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR part 541, and that anti-theft
devices that meet the standard will be installed on all vehicles that
are not already so equipped.
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 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.
Issued on: April 9, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-9330 Filed 4-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
