Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Trucks Manufactured for Sale in the Mexican Market Are Eligible for Importation

Topics:  Ford F-150

Claude H. Harris
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
February 28, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13754-13755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04721]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0162, Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Trucks Manufactured for Sale in the Mexican 
Market Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for sale in the Mexican 
market that were not originally manufactured to comply with all 
applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), are eligible 
for importation into the United States because they are substantially 
similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the 
United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as 
complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 
2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab truck) and they are capable of being readily 
altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and 
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to 
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are 
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are 
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    How to Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the 
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the 
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in 
the Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit 
late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search 
the Docket for new material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

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 FMVSS 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 FMVSS.
    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.
    Mesa Auto Wholesalers of Chandler, Arizona (Mesa) (Registered 
Importer No. 94-018) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for sale in 
the Mexican market are eligible for importation into the United States. 
The vehicles which Mesa Auto Wholesalers believes are substantially 
similar are 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks that were manufactured for 
sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as 
conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified 2004 Ford 
F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for sale in the Mexican market to 
their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be 
substantially similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    Mesa submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks 
manufactured for sale in the Mexican market, as originally 
manufactured, conform to many FMVSS 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 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for 
sale in the Mexican market are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission 
Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch 
System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 
Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 109

[[Page 13755]]

New Pneumatic Tires and Certain Specialty Tires, 124 Accelerator 
Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 201 Occupant 
Protection in Interior Impact, 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, 208 Occupant 
Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 
Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 225 Child 
Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The 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: Replacement of the 
instrument cluster with a U.S.--model component.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of the following U.S.-model components on 
vehicles not already so equipped: (a) Headlamps; (b) tail lamps (c) 
front and rear side marker lamps; and (d) a U.S.-model high-mounted 
stop lamp.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of the existing mirror.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation 
Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles 
With GVWR of 4,536 kilgrams (10,000 pounds) or Less: Installation of a 
tire and rim information placard.
    The petitioner states that each vehicle will be inspected prior to 
importation for compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard in 49 CFR 
part 541 and that anti-theft devices will be installed on all vehicles 
not already so equipped.
    The petitioner additionally states that a certification label must 
be affixed to the driver's door jamb to meet the requirements of 49 CFR 
part 567.
    As previously stated, the petitioner claims that the vehicle, as 
originally manufactured, complies with FMVSS No. 208 Occupant Crash 
Protection. NHTSA seeks specific comments on whether the vehicle, which 
is manufactured for sale in the Mexican Market, does in fact comply 
with all requirements of FMVSS No. 208, including the unbelted occupant 
protection requirements of this standard.
    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 addresses 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: February 22, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-04721 Filed 2-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P