[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 83 (Monday, May 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21238-21239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10642]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-30; Notice 1]
Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1992
Mercedes-Benz 600SL Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1992 Mercedes-Benz 600SL 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 a 1992
Mercedes-Benz 600SL that was not originally manufactured to comply with
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for
importation into the United States because (1) It is substantially
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for importation
into and sale in the United States and that was certified by its
manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) it is
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 31, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 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) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I)
of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Act)), 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. Sec. 30115 (formerly section 114 of the Act),
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.
Northern California Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc. of Napa,
California (NCDL) (Registered Importer No. R-92-011) has petitioned
NHTSA to decide whether 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600SL (Model ID 129.076)
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicle which NCDL believes is substantially similar is the 1992
Mercedes-Benz 500SL. NCDL has submitted information indicating that
Daimler Benz A.G., the company that manufactured the 1992 Mercedes-Benz
500SL, certified that vehicle as conforming to all applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety standards and offered it for sale in the United
States.
The petitioner contends that it carefully compared the 1992 model
600SL to the 1992 model 500SL, and found the two models to be
substantially similar with respect to compliance with most applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
NCDL submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the 1992 model 600SL, as originally manufactured,
conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the same
manner as the 1992 model 500SL that was offered for sale in the United
States, or is capable of being readily altered to conform to those
standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the 1992 model 600SL is
identical to the certified 1992 model 500SL 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, 107 Reflecting
Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft
Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps,
212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield
Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the 1992 Mercedes-Benz
600SL complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp; (b) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from
kilometers to miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies which
incorporate sealed beam headlamps; (b) installation of front and rear
sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-model
taillamp assemblies.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Modification of the driver's and
passenger's side rear view mirrors.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: Installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of
reinforcing beams.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC
20590. 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. [[Page 21239]] 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 26, 1995.
Marilynne E. Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-10642 Filed 4-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
