96-15529. Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 31220-31222]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-15529]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    [Docket No. 96-059; Notice 1]
    
    
    Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
    1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 Passenger Cars 
    Are Eligible for Importation
    
    AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
    1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 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 1993 
    Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 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 July 19, 1996.
    
    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 St., SW., 
    Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm]
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
    
    [[Page 31221]]
    
    Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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.
        G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'') 
    (Registered Importer No. R-90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
    whether 1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 
    passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
    vehicles which G&K believes are substantially similar are the 1993 
    Mercedes-Benz 400E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420. G&K has submitted 
    information indicating that Daimler Benz, A.G., the company that 
    manufactured the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz 
    E420, certified those vehicles as conforming to all applicable Federal 
    motor vehicle safety standards and offered them for sale in the United 
    States.
        The petitioner contends that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
    certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 to 
    the U.S.-certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz 
    E420, and found those vehicles to be substantially similar with respect 
    to compliance with most applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
    standards.
        G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
    that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 
    Mercedes-Benz E420, as originally manufactured, conform to many Federal 
    motor vehicle safety standards in the same manner as the U.S. certified 
    1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420, or are 
    capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
        Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
    1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 are identical 
    to the U.S. certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-
    Benz E420 with respect to compliance with Standards 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, 116 Brake Fluid, 124  Accelerator 
    Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head 
    Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the Driver From the Steering 
    Control System, 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 Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 
    Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 
    Flammability of Interior Materials.
        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) placement of the appropriate symbol on the seat 
    belt warning lamp; (c) 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 and front 
    sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies which 
    incorporate rear sidemarkers; (c) installation of a high mounted stop 
    lamp.
        Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
    information placard.
        Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the passenger 
    side rear view mirror, which is convex, with a U.S.-model component.
        Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a buzzer 
    microswitch in the steering lock assembly, and a warning buzzer.
        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. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window 
    system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
    switched off.
        Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat 
    belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped 
    with an automatic restraint system consisting of a driver's and 
    passenger's side air bag and knee bolsters. The petitioner further 
    states that the vehicle is equipped with Type 2 seat belts in the front 
    and rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a Type 1 seat 
    belt in the rear center designated seating position.
        Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of door 
    beams. Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a 
    rollover valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
    evaporative emissions collection canister.
        Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
    U.S. certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 
    must be reinforced to comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR 
    Part 581.
        The petitioner further states that before the vehicle will be 
    imported into the United States, its VIN will be inscribed on fourteen 
    major car parts, and a theft prevention certification label will be 
    affixed, in compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard in 49 CFR 
    Part 541.
        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, S.W., 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. Notice of final action on the petition
    
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    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: June 13, 1996.
    Marilynne Jacobs,
    Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
    [FR Doc. 96-15529 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/19/1996
Department:
Transportation Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 1993 Mercedes-Benz 420E and 1994-1996 Mercedes-Benz E420 passenger cars are eligible for importation.
Document Number:
96-15529
Dates:
The closing date for comments on the petition is July 19, 1996.
Pages:
31220-31222 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 96-059, Notice 1
PDF File:
96-15529.pdf