[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52992-52993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25886]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-102; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic Passenger Cars are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic 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 1990-
1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic 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 November 8,
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
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. 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 1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic (Model ID 124.230)
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicles which Wallace believes are substantially similar are 1990-1993
Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matic 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
1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matics 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 the non-U.S. certified 1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E
4Matics, 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 the non-U.S.
certified 1990-1993 Mercedes-Benz 300E 4Matics 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, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 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 a lens with the ECE warning symbol on the brake
system warning light; (b) 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; (b)
installation of U.S.-model rear turn signal lenses; (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.
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. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components: (a)
Replacement of the cap on each interior door locking button to permit
operation from inside the vehicle; (b) modification of the rear door
locks so that the interior
[[Page 52993]]
door handles are inoperative when the door lock is engaged.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
seat belt warning system; (b) installation of a seat belt latch with a
microswitch to activate the seat belt warning system; (c) installation
of a driver's side air bag and knee bolster identical to those found on
the vehicles' U.S.-certified counterparts; (d) installation of a
passenger's side air bag in vehicles for which the U.S.-certified
counterpart is so equipped; (e) installation of U.S.-model front seat
belt retractors. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped
with Type 2 seat belts in all four outboard seating systems, and with a
Type 1 seat belt in the rear center 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 the bumpers on non-U.S.
certified 1990-1993 Mercedes Benz 300E 4Matics must be modified 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, 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: October 3, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-25886 Filed 10-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P