Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL Passenger Cars (Manufactured Before September 1, 2006) Are Eligible for Importation |
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Topics: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
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Jeffrey M. Giuseppe
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
November 2, 2015
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 211 (Monday, November 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67483-67485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27824]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0081; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2006 Mercedes-Benz SL Passenger Cars (Manufactured Before September 1,
2006) Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: 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
[[Page 67484]]
nonconforming 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL passenger cars (manufactured before
September 1, 2006) 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL that was manufactured before September 1,
2006) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the
standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 2,
2015.
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: George Stevens, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5308).
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.
J.K. Technologies, LLC of Baltimore (JK), Maryland (Registered
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming
2006 Mercedes-Benz SL passenger cars (manufactured before September 1,
2006) are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles
which JK believes are substantially similar are 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL
passenger cars (manufactured before September 1, 2006) 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 2006
Mercedes-Benz SL passenger cars (manufactured before September 1, 2006)
to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be
substantially similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
JK submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that non-U.S. certified 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL passenger cars
(manufactured before September 1, 2006), 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL passenger cars (manufactured before
September 1, 2006) 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood
Latch System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control
Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake 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, 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, 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 and reprogramming the
unit to activate required safety systems.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: Replacement of the headlamps, side marker lamps, and tail
lamps with U.S.-model components.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a
GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Replacement of the passenger
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the
[[Page 67485]]
required warning statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention:
Reprogramming the vehicle computer to activate safety systems.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel
Systems: Reprogramming of the vehicle computer.
Standard No. 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: Addition of OEM
tire pressure monitoring system using OEM parts and programs.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Reprogramming in order
to activate audible warning system. Installation of U.S.-Model front
cross member and knee bolsters.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Installation of U.S.-model
passenger seat belt.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Inspection of all vehicles
and replacement of any non U.S.-model fuel system components with U.S.-
model components as necessary to conform to the requirements of the
standard.
Standard No. 401 Interior Trunk Release: Installation of U.S.-model
interior trunk release components.
The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post to
meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
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), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.
Jeffrey M. Giuseppe,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-27824 Filed 10-30-15; 8:45 am]
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