[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61719-61721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26061]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2018-0007; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL500 Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (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 
certain model year (MY) 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL500 multipurpose passenger 
vehicles (MPVs) 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

[[Page 61720]]

vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United 
States and were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the 
safety standards (the U.S.-certified 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL550 MPV) and 
are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 31, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written data, 
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the 
docket number cited in the title of this notice and must 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 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 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, 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: Neil Thurgood, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-0712).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. History: 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.
    II. Summary of Petition: Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories 
(WETL), of Houston, Texas (Registered Importer R-90-005) has petitioned 
NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming MY 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL500 MPVs 
are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
WETL believes are substantially similar are MY 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL550 
MPV 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 2016 
Mercedes-Benz GL500 MPVs to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and 
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most FMVSS.
    The petitioner submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the subject non-U.S.-certified vehicles, 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 
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL500 MPVs, as originally manufactured, conforms to: 
Standard 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, 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, 113 Hood Latch 
System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, 
Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 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, 202a 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, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 
210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side 
Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, Applicable unless a 
Vehicle is Certified to Sec.  571.216a, 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 subject non-U.S.-certified 
MPVs are capable of being readily altered to meet the following 
standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: The brake warning telltale 
must be modified to show the word ``BRAKE'' when activated.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: The headlamps and front side marker lamps must be removed 
and replaced with conforming lamps.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: The passenger side mirror must 
be replaced with a U.S.-model that includes the required warning label.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention: 
Installation of the U.S.-model anti-theft system to activate the key 
warning, audible alarm.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Inspection to ascertain 
if the software and firmware installed in the vehicle are the same as 
the most up-to-date versions installed in the U.S.-conforming version 
of the vehicle. Replacement of any software or

[[Page 61721]]

firmware found not to be the most recent version.
    The petitioner further states that labels will be affixed to 
conform the vehicle to the requirements of 49 CFR parts 565 and 567, 
VIN Content and Certification, respectively.
    III. Comments: All comments and supporting materials received 
before the close of business on the closing date indicated above will 
be filed in the docket and considered. Comments filed after the closing 
date will also be considered to the fullest extent possible and 
available for examination in the docket at the above ADDRESSES.
    Once the petition is granted or denied, notice of the decision will 
be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated at the end of this notice.
    This notice of receipt of the subject petition does not represent 
any agency decision or other exercise of judgment concerning the merits 
of the petition. 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.

Michael A. Cole,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-26061 Filed 11-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P


