Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD Trucks Are Eligible for Importation

Topics:  GMC Sierra

Otto G. Matheke III
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
21 April 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20792-20793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08206]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0020; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD Trucks Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) receipt of a petition for a decision that model 
year (MY) 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD Trucks (TKs) that were not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) with a GVWR range of 6,231-7,059 lbs, 
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 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD TKs) and are capable of being readily 
altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 21, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written data, 
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the 
docket and notice number cited in the title of this notice and may be 
submitted by any of the following methods:
     Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room

[[Page 20793]]

W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver comments by hand to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
except for Federal Holidays.
     Electronically: Submit comments electronically by logging 
onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Comments may also be faxed to (202) 493-2251.
    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 comments you have submitted by mail were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard along with 
the comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without 
change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided.
    All comments and supporting materials received before the close of 
business on the closing date indicated above will be filed in the 
docket and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials 
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be 
considered to the fullest extent possible.
    All comments, background documentation, and supporting materials 
submitted to the docket may be viewed by anyone at the address and 
times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by following the online instructions for 
accessing the dockets. The docket ID number for this petition is shown 
in the heading of this notice.
    DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement is available for review in a 
Federal Register notice published on April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477-78).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Mazurowski, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-1012).

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 MY 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 
of each petition that it receives in the Federal Register 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.
    Diversified Vehicle Services Inc. (DVS), (Registered Importer R-98-
165), of Indianapolis, Indiana has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD TKs are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which DVS believes are 
substantially similar are MY 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD TKs sold 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 MY 2020-
2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD TKs to their U.S. certified counterparts and 
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most FMVSS.
    DVS submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified MY 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD TKs, as 
originally manufactured, conform to many applicable 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 the non-U.S. certified MY 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 
3500HD TKs, as originally manufactured, conform to: FMVSS Nos.102, 
Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and 
Transmission Braking Effect, 103, Windshield Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104, Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106, Brake Hoses, 
108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment, 110, Tire 
Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load 
Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 
kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less, 111, Rear Visibility, 113, Hood 
Latch System, 114, Theft Protection, 116, Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 
118, Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel System, 119, New 
Pneumatic Tires, 124, Accelerator Control Systems, 126, Electronic 
Stability Control Systems For Light Vehicles, 135, Light Vehicle Brake 
Systems, 138, Tire pressure monitoring systems, 201, Occupant 
Protection in Interior Impact, 202, Head Restraints; Mandatory 
Applicability Begins on September 1, 2009, 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, 213, Child Restraint Systems, 
214, Side Impact Protection, 216, Roof Crush Resistance; Applicable 
Unless a Vehicle is Certified to Sec.  571.216a, 219, Windshield Zone 
Intrusion, 301, Fuel System Integrity, 302, Flammability of Interior 
Materials, 49 CFR part 541, Theft Prevention, and, 49 CFR part 565 VIN 
Requirements.
    The petitioner also contends that the subject non-U.S. certified 
vehicles are capable of being readily altered to meet the following 
FMVSS, in the manner indicated:
    FMVSS No. 101, Controls and Displays: the instrument cluster will 
require the addition of the word ``BRAKE''.
    The petitioner additionally states a reference and certification 
label will need to be added to the left front door post area to meet 
the requirements of 49 CFR part 567.

    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.

Otto G. Matheke III,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2021-08206 Filed 4-20-21; 8:45 am]
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