[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42658-42659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21286]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4103]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S420 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S420 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 1994-
1997 Mercedes-Benz S420 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.
DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is October 9, 1998.
ADDRESS: 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 10 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. Sec. 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,
[[Page 42659]]
certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S420 passenger cars are eligible
for importation into the United States. The vehicles which Wallace
believes are substantially similar are 1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S420
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
1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S420 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.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1994-1997 Mercedes-Benz S420
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 1994-
1997 Mercedes-Benz S420 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 1994-
1997 Mercedes-Benz S420 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: (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 or its replacement with one already so
calibrated.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlight and sidemarker
assemblies; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillight and sidemarker
assemblies; (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 Mirror: inscription of the required
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
in the steering lock assembly. The petitioner states that the vehicle
is already equipped with a warning buzzer microswitch.
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. 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 system through replacement of the driver's seat
belt latch and the addition of a seat belt warning buzzer system; (b)
replacement of the driver's and passenger's side air bags and knee
bolsters with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not already so
equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with
Type II at both front and rear outboard designated seating positions,
and with a lap belt in the rear center designated seating position.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: 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 all vehicles will be
inspected prior to importation to assure compliance with the Theft
Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR Part 541.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicles 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 10 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: August 4, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-21286 Filed 8-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
