[Federal Register: August 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 152)]
[Notices]
[Page 45103-45104]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08au06-112]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25515]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2004 Mercedes Benz Maybach Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2004 Mercedes Benz Maybach passenger cars are eligible for importation.
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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 Mercedes Benz Maybach passenger cars that were not originally
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards are eligible for importation into the United States because
(1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and
that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety
standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform
to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is September 7,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.] 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 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit
http://dms.dot.gov.
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 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. 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
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.
J.K. Technologies, LLC, of Baltimore, Maryland
(``J.K.'')(Registered Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide
whether nonconforming 2004 Mercedes Benz Maybach passenger cars are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which
J.K. believes are substantially similar are 2004 Mercedes Benz Maybach
passenger cars that were manufactured for importation into, and sale
in, the United States and certified by their manufacturer as conforming
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
2004 Mercedes Benz Maybach passenger cars to their U.S.-certified
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with
respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2004 Mercedes Benz Maybach
passenger cars, as originally manufactured, conform to many Federal
motor vehicle safety standards 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
Mercedes Benz Maybach passenger cars 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 Passenger Car 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, Standard No. 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, 302
Flammability of Interior Materials, and 401 Interior Trunk Release.
In addition, the petitioner claims that the vehicles comply with
the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
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: Installation of a U.S.-
model instrument cluster.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model front sidemarker lamps; (b)
installation of U.S.-model headlamps; and (c) installation of U.S.-
model taillamp assemblies which incorporate rear U.S.-model sidemarker
lamps.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of
[[Page 45104]]
the required warning statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of U.S. version
software to meet the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel
Systems: Installation of U.S. version software to meet the requirements
of this standard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Reprogramming the
vehicle computer to the U.S.-mode to ensure compliance with the
standard.
The petitioner states that the occupant restraints used in these
vehicles consist of dual front airbags and combination lap and shoulder
belts at the front and rear outboard seating positions. These manual
systems are automatic, self-tensioning, and are released by means of a
single red push-button.
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.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.] 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. 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: August 2, 2006.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E6-12845 Filed 8-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P