99-20180. Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 42758-42759]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-20180]
    
    
    
    [[Page 42758]]
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    [Docket No. NHTSA-99-6039]
    
    
    Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
    1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
    Importation
    
    AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
    1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class passenger cars are eligible for 
    importation.
    
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    SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
    Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
    1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class 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 September 7, 
    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 1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz 
    C Class passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United 
    States. The vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially similar are 
    1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class passenger cars that were manufactured 
    for importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by 
    their manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor 
    vehicle safety standards.
        The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
    1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class 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 1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class 
    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-
    1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class 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, 206 Door 
    Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt 
    Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 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 non-U.S. certified 1994-
    1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class 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 a noncomplying symbol on the brake 
    failure indicator lamp; (b) replacement of the speedometer with one 
    calibrated in miles per hour.
        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 on vehicles that are not already so 
    equipped.
        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. 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.
        The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
    be
    
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    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: August 2, 1999.
    Marilynne Jacobs,
    Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
    [FR Doc. 99-20180 Filed 8-4-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/05/1999
Department:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 1994-1999 Mercedes-Benz C Class passenger cars are eligible for importation.
Document Number:
99-20180
Dates:
The closing date for comments on the petition is September 7, 1999.
Pages:
42758-42759 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. NHTSA-99-6039
PDF File:
99-20180.pdf