Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2007-2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation, 21833-21835 [2014-08715]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 2014 / Notices
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11,
2014.
Jerome M. Mellody,
Acting Chief Counsel.
• Status of DO–342A and DO–315C
Drafts.
• Industry updates.
• WG–1 DO–315C draft review.
[FR Doc. 2014–08776 Filed 4–16–14; 8:45 am]
May 14
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Plenary Discussion
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
• WG–1 DO–315C draft review.
May 15
Federal Aviation Administration
Plenary Discussion
Twenty Fifth Meeting: RTCA Special
Committee 213, Enhanced Flight
Vision Systems/Synthetic Vision
Systems (EFVS/SVS)
• WG–1 DO–315C draft review.
• WG–2 DO–342A draft review (time
permitting).
• Administrative items (new meeting
location/dates, action items etc.).
• Adjourn.
Attendance is open to the interested
public but limited to space availability.
With the approval of the chairman,
members of the public may present oral
statements at the meeting. Persons
wishing to present statements or obtain
information should contact the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section. Members of the public
may present a written statement to the
committee at any time.
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Meeting Notice of RTCA Special
Committee 213, Enhanced Flight Vision
Systems/Synthetic Vision Systems
(EFVS/SVS).
AGENCY:
The FAA is issuing this notice
to advise the public of the twenty fifth
meeting of the RTCA Special Committee
213, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems/
Synthetic Vision Systems (EFVS/SVS).
DATES: The meeting will be held May
13–15, 2014 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
on May 13th and 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on
May 14th and 15th.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Airbus in France, Site de Saint Martin
du Touch, 316 route de Bayonne, 31060
Toulouse Cedex 9.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim
Etherington, tjetheri@
rockwellcollins.com, (319) 295–5233,
Patrick Krohn, pkrohn@uasc.com, (425)
602–1375 and The RTCA Secretariat,
1150 18th Street NW., Suite 910,
Washington, DC 20036, or by telephone
at (202) 330–0652/(202) 833–9339, fax at
(202) 833–9434, or Web site at https://
www.rtca.org. Additional contact
information: please contact Patrick
Krohn, pkrohn@uasc.com, telephone
(425) 602–1375 or mobile at (425) 829–
1996. RTCA contact is Jennifer Iverson,
jiverson@rtca.org, (202) 330–0662.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, 5 U.S.C., App.), notice is hereby
given for a meeting of Special
Committee 213. The agenda will include
the following:
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
May 13
Plenary Discussion (Sign in at 9:00 a.m.)
• Introductions and administrative
items.
• Review and approve minutes from
last full plenary meeting.
• Review of terms of reference.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:28 Apr 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 9,
2014.
Paige Williams,
Management Analyst, NextGen, Business
Operations Group, Federal Aviation
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014–08619 Filed 4–16–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2014–0037; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for
Decision That Nonconforming 2007–
2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Receipt of petition.
AGENCY:
This document announces
receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a
petition for a decision that
nonconforming 2007–2010 MercedesBenz S-Class passenger cars 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
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00123
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21833
manufacturer as complying with the
safety standards (the U.S.-certified
version of the 2007–2010 MercedesBenz S-Class and they are capable of
being readily altered to conform to the
standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments
on the petition is May 19, 2014.
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
https://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 https://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 https://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
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
21834
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 2014 / Notices
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:
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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,
Maryland (Registered Importer 90–006)
has petitioned NHTSA to decide
whether nonconforming 2007–2010
Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger cars
are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicles which J.K.
Technologies believes are substantially
similar are 2007–2010 Mercedes-Benz SClass passenger cars 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 2007–2010 MercedesBenz S-Class passenger cars to their
U.S.-certified counterparts, and found
the vehicles to be substantially similar
with respect to compliance with most
FMVSS.
J.K. Technologies submitted
information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified
2007–2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
passenger cars, as originally
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:28 Apr 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
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 2007–
2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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, 113
Hood Latch System, 116 Motor Vehicle
Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control
Systems, 126 Electronic Stability
Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle
Brake Systems, 138 Tire Pressure
Monitoring Systems, 139 New
Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light
Vehicles, 201 Occupant Protection in
Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints,
204 Steering Control Rearward
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials,
206 Door Locks and Door Retention
Components, 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 indicate
correct vehicle mileage.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective
Devices and Associated Equipment:
replacement of the headlamps, side
marker lamps, and tail lamps with U.S.model components and reprogramming
the vehicle computer to activate
necessary systems.
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
required warning statement on the face
of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection
and Rollaway Prevention:
reprogramming the vehicle computer to
activate the key warning system.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated
Window, Partition, and Roof Panel
Systems: reprogramming of the vehicle
computer.
PO 00000
Frm 00124
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Standard No. 207 Seating Systems:
replacement of non-conforming seating
systems with U.S.-model components.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash
Protection: inspection to confirm that
belts, airbags, sensors, control units,
wiring harnesses, knee bolsters, labels,
and braces bear U.S.-model part
numbers. Non-U.S.-model parts will be
replaced with U.S.-model components
so that the vehicle is identical to the
U.S.-model in regards to the standard.
The vehicle computer must also be
reprogrammed activate the seat belt
warning system.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt
Assemblies: inspection of seatbelts and
replacement of non-conforming belts
with U.S.-model components.
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 states that the bumpers
and bumper support structure are
identical to those on the U.S. certified
model. However, the bumper impact
absorbers must be replaced with U.S.model components to comply with 49
CFR part 581.
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.
Because the subject petition covers
nonconforming vehicles that have been
manufactured on or after September 1,
2006, compliance with the advanced air
bag requirements of FMVSS No. 208 is
of significant concern to the agency.
NHTSA is therefore particularly
interested in comments regarding the
ability of a Registered Importer to
readily alter the subject vehicles to fully
meet the driver and front outboard
passenger frontal crash protection and
child passenger protection requirements
of FMVSS No. 208. The following is a
partial listing of the components that
may be affected:
a. Driver’s frontal air bag module
b. Passenger frontal air bag module
c. Passenger frontal air bag cover
d. Knee air bags
e. Knee bolsters
f. Passenger outboard frontal seat belt
system
g. Driver and front outboard seat
assemblies including seat tracks and
internal seat components
h. Steering wheel components,
including the clock spring assembly,
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 2014 / Notices
the steering column, and all
connecting components
i. Instrument panel
j. Instrument panel support structure
(i.e. cross beam)
k. Occupant sensing and classification
systems, including sensors and
processors
l. Restraint control modules
m. Passenger air bag status indicator
light system, including related display
components and wiring
n. Wiring harnesses between the
restraint control module, occupant
classification system and restraint
system components
o. Control system computer software
and firmware
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,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety
Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2014–08715 Filed 4–16–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2014–0038; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for
Decision That Nonconforming 2012
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Passenger
Cars Are Eligible for Importation
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Receipt of petition.
AGENCY:
This document announces
receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a
petition for a decision that
nonconforming 2012 Mercedes-Benz SClass passenger cars 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
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:28 Apr 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
States and that were certified by their
manufacturer as complying with the
safety standards (the U.S.-certified
version of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SClass) and they are capable of being
readily altered to conform to the
standards.
The closing date for comments on
the petition is May 19, 2014.
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
https://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 https://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 https://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
DATE:
PO 00000
Frm 00125
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21835
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,
Maryland (Registered Importer 90–006)
has petitioned NHTSA to decide
whether nonconforming 2012 MercedesBenz S-Class passenger cars are eligible
for importation into the United States.
The vehicles which J.K. Technologies
believes are substantially similar are
2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger
cars 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz
S-Class passenger cars to their U.S.certified counterparts, and found the
vehicles to be substantially similar with
respect to compliance with most
FMVSS.
J.K. Technologies submitted
information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2012
Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger cars,
as originally manufactured, conform to
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21833-21835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08715]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0037; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2007-2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Receipt of petition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
nonconforming 2007-2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger cars 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 2007-2010 Mercedes-Benz S-
Class and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the
standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 19, 2014.
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 https://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 https://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 https://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
[[Page 21834]]
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, Maryland (Registered Importer
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 2007-2010
Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger cars are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicles which J.K. Technologies believes are
substantially similar are 2007-2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger
cars 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 2007-2010
Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger cars to their U.S.-certified
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with
respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
J.K. Technologies submitted information with its petition intended
to demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2007-2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
passenger cars, 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 2007-2010 Mercedes-Benz S-
Class 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, 113 Hood Latch System, 116 Motor
Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 126 Electronic
Stability Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 138 Tire
Pressure Monitoring Systems, 139 New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light
Vehicles, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head
Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 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 indicate correct vehicle mileage.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: replacement of the headlamps, side marker lamps, and tail
lamps with U.S.-model components and reprogramming the vehicle computer
to activate necessary systems.
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
required warning statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention:
reprogramming the vehicle computer to activate the key warning system.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel
Systems: reprogramming of the vehicle computer.
Standard No. 207 Seating Systems: replacement of non-conforming
seating systems with U.S.-model components.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection to confirm
that belts, airbags, sensors, control units, wiring harnesses, knee
bolsters, labels, and braces bear U.S.-model part numbers. Non-U.S.-
model parts will be replaced with U.S.-model components so that the
vehicle is identical to the U.S.-model in regards to the standard. The
vehicle computer must also be reprogrammed activate the seat belt
warning system.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: inspection of seatbelts and
replacement of non-conforming belts with U.S.-model components.
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 states that the bumpers and bumper support structure
are identical to those on the U.S. certified model. However, the bumper
impact absorbers must be replaced with U.S.-model components to comply
with 49 CFR part 581.
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.
Because the subject petition covers nonconforming vehicles that
have been manufactured on or after September 1, 2006, compliance with
the advanced air bag requirements of FMVSS No. 208 is of significant
concern to the agency. NHTSA is therefore particularly interested in
comments regarding the ability of a Registered Importer to readily
alter the subject vehicles to fully meet the driver and front outboard
passenger frontal crash protection and child passenger protection
requirements of FMVSS No. 208. The following is a partial listing of
the components that may be affected:
a. Driver's frontal air bag module
b. Passenger frontal air bag module
c. Passenger frontal air bag cover
d. Knee air bags
e. Knee bolsters
f. Passenger outboard frontal seat belt system
g. Driver and front outboard seat assemblies including seat tracks and
internal seat components
h. Steering wheel components, including the clock spring assembly,
[[Page 21835]]
the steering column, and all connecting components
i. Instrument panel
j. Instrument panel support structure (i.e. cross beam)
k. Occupant sensing and classification systems, including sensors and
processors
l. Restraint control modules
m. Passenger air bag status indicator light system, including related
display components and wiring
n. Wiring harnesses between the restraint control module, occupant
classification system and restraint system components
o. Control system computer software and firmware
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,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2014-08715 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
