Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/08/05/2014-18441/petition-for-exemption-from-the-federal-motor-vehicle-motor-theft-prevention-standard-tesla
Timestamp: 2019-05-26 09:01:08
Document Index: 138284647

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 543', 'art 541', 'art 541', 'art 541', 'art 541', 'art 541', 'art 543', 'art 543', 'arts 541', 'art 543', 'art 543', 'art 543']

79 FR 45587
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-18441 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-18441
This document grants in full the petition of Tesla Motors Inc's., (Tesla) petition for an exemption of the Model X vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR Part 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of 49 CFR Part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard). Tesla requested confidential treatment for specific information in its petition. The agency will address Tesla's request for confidential treatment by separate letter.
In a petition dated April 30, 2014, Tesla requested an exemption from the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard for the Model X vehicle line beginning with MY 2014. The petition requested an exemption from parts-marking pursuant to 49 CFR 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, based on the installation of an antitheft device as standard equipment for the entire vehicle line.
Tesla's submission is considered a complete petition as required by 49 CFR 543.7 in that it meets the general requirements contained in 543.5 and the specific content requirements of 543.6. In addressing the specific content requirements of 543.6, Tesla provided information on the reliability and durability of its proposed device. Tesla stated that the antitheft device will be upgraded with a more robust design than the antitheft device already installed as standard equipment on its Model S vehicle line. To ensure reliability and durability of the device, Tesla conducted tests based on its own specified standards. Tesla provided a detailed list of the tests conducted and stated that it believes that its device is reliable and durable because it complied with its design standards. Additionally, Tesla stated that it has also incorporated other measures of ensuring reliability and durability of the device to protect the immobilizer device from exposure to the elements and limits its access by unauthorized personnel. Additionally, Tesla stated that the immobilizer relies Start Printed Page 45588on electronic functions and not mechanical functions, and therefore expects the components to last at least the life of the vehicle or longer.
Tesla also compared the device proposed for its vehicle line with other devices which NHTSA has already determined to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as would compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard (i.e., the Audi Q5, GM Cadillac SRX, Volvo XC90, Ford Lincoln MKX and the Toyota Lexus RX vehicle lines). Specifically, the agency's data show that using an average of 3 MYs (2009-2011) theft rate data, the average theft rates for the Audi Q5 is (0.5756), GM Cadillac SRX (0.5888), Volvo XC90 (0.2582), Ford Lincoln MKX (0.6046) and the Toyota Lexus RX (0.4034) which are all well below the median theft rate of 3.5826.
Based on the evidence submitted by Tesla, the agency believes that the antitheft device for the Model X vehicle line is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard (49 CFR 541).
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 33106 and 49 CFR 543.7 (b), the agency grants a petition for exemption from the parts-marking requirements of Part 541, either in whole or in part, if it determines that, based upon substantial evidence, the standard equipment antitheft device is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of Part 541. The agency finds that Tesla has provided adequate reasons for its belief that the antitheft device for the Model X vehicle line is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard. This conclusion is based on the information Tesla provided about its device.
For the foregoing reasons, the agency hereby grants in full Tesla's petition for exemption for the Model X vehicle line from the parts-marking requirements of 49 CFR part 541, beginning with the 2014 model year vehicles. The agency notes that 49 CFR part 541, Appendix A-1, identifies those lines that are exempted from the Theft Prevention Standard for a given MY. 49 CFR part 543.7(f) contains publication requirements incident to the disposition of all part 543 petitions. Advanced listing, including the release of future product nameplates, the beginning model year for which the petition is granted and a general description of the antitheft device is necessary in order to notify law enforcement agencies of new vehicle lines exempted from the parts marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.
If Tesla decides not to use the exemption for this line, it should formally notify the agency. If such a decision is made, the line must be fully marked according to the requirements under 49 CFR parts 541.5 and 541.6 (marking of major component parts and replacement parts).
NHTSA notes that if Tesla wishes in the future to modify the device on which this exemption is based, the company may have to submit a petition to modify the exemption. Part 543.7(d) states that a Part 543 exemption applies only to vehicles that belong to a line exempted under this part and equipped with the antitheft device on which the line's exemption is based. Further, Part 543.9(c)(2) provides for the submission of petitions “to modify an exemption to permit the use of an antitheft device similar to, but differing from the one specified in that exemption.”
[FR Doc. 2014-18441 Filed 8-4-14; 8:45 am]