[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 83 (Monday, May 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21238-21239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10642]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-30; Notice 1]


Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1992 
Mercedes-Benz 600SL Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1992 Mercedes-Benz 600SL 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 a 1992 
Mercedes-Benz 600SL 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 altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 31, 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 Street 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. Sec. 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.
    Northern California Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc. of Napa, 
California (NCDL) (Registered Importer No. R-92-011) has petitioned 
NHTSA to decide whether 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600SL (Model ID 129.076) 
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicle which NCDL believes is substantially similar is the 1992 
Mercedes-Benz 500SL. NCDL has submitted information indicating that 
Daimler Benz A.G., the company that manufactured the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 
500SL, certified that vehicle as conforming to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards and offered it for sale in the United 
States.
    The petitioner contends that it carefully compared the 1992 model 
600SL to the 1992 model 500SL, and found the two models to be 
substantially similar with respect to compliance with most applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    NCDL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the 1992 model 600SL, as originally manufactured, 
conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the same 
manner as the 1992 model 500SL that was offered for sale in the United 
States, or is capable of being readily altered to conform to those 
standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the 1992 model 600SL is 
identical to the certified 1992 model 500SL 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, 114 Theft 
Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 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, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 
600SL complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is 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.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies which 
incorporate sealed beam headlamps; (b) installation of front and rear 
sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-model 
taillamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Modification of the driver's and 
passenger's side rear view mirrors.
    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. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of 
reinforcing beams.
    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. [[Page 21239]] 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: April 26, 1995.
Marilynne E. Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-10642 Filed 4-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P