[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49661-49662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23862]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-64; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming
1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 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 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 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 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 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 October 26,
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 St., 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. 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 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 (Model ID 129.067)
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicles which G&K believes are substantially similar are 1993
Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 passenger cars 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
1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 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.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that non-U.S. certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995
SL500 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 1993
Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 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, 107 Reflecting
Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake
Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in
Interior Impact,
[[Page 49662]]
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 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 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 headlamp assemblies and front
sidmarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies which
incorporate rear sidmarkers; (c) installation of a high mounted stop
lamp.
Stnadard 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 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 vehicles are
equipped with Type 2 seat belts in both seating positions. The
petitioner also states that the vehicles manufactured after September
9, 1993 are equipped with driver's and passenger's side air bags and
knee bolsters, and that those manufactured before that date may be
equipped with only a driver's side air bag and knee bolster and a Type
2 seat belt on the passenger's side.
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 the bumpers on non-U.S.
certified 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500SL and 1994 and 1995 SL500 passenger
cars must be reinforced to comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49
CFR Part 581. Petitioner also states that the vehicles' VINs will be
inscribed on 14 major car parts and a theft prevention certification
label will be installed on the vehicles before they are imported into
the United States to comply with the Theft Prevention Standard found 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
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: September 21, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-23862 Filed 9-25-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
