[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17926]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 22, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-58; Notice 1]
Receipt of Petition for Determination that Nonconforming 1991
Mercedes-Benz 300CE Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for determination that
nonconforming 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 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 determination that a
1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 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 modified to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 22,
1994.
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:
Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle 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 determined
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 (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 modified to conform to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility determinations 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 determines, 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 determination
in the Federal Register.
G&K Automotive conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether
1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE (Model ID 124.051) passenger cars are eligible
for importation into the United States. The vehicle which G&K believes
is substantially similar is the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE that was
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and
certified by its manufacturer, Daimler Benz A.G., as conforming to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE to its U.S. certified counterpart,
and found the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE, as originally
manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards
in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is capable of
being readily modified to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart
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 modified 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) installation of a 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 sealed beam headlamps and
front sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.--model taillamp lenses
which incorporate rear sidemarkers; (c) installation of a high mounted
stop lamp; (d) replacement of bulb failure modules with U.S.--model
components.
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
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN place 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: (a) installation of a
seat belt warning buzzer; (b) installation of knee bolsters to augment
the vehicle's air bag based passive restraint system, which otherwise
conforms to the standard.
Standard No. 214 Side Door Strength: installation of reinforcing
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 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE must be reinforced to comply
with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
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. 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: July 15, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-17926 Filed 7-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
